Page 11 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Nine

Lily

H arper reached out this morning and asked if I wanted to have dinner with her and Gunner after I finished my shift at the shop.

JJ is out of town, and I’ve spent the day looking forward to a snide remark free few hours with my daughter and grandson.

As soon as Kristen closed up the shop, I was out of there, not wanting to waste a second with my daughter and grandson.

“Grandma Lily, look…”

Grinning, I follow his finger and see the drawing he’s made for me. He wanted me to sit next to him at the dinner table and I took great delight in not having JJ around to stir shit up.

“That’s amazing, Gunner. You’re a little artist!” I exclaim.

“Look, look…” He shows me another drawing tacked on the back door.

“We’re going to have to buy more supplies.”

Harper laughs. “Jay always says he pays more out in stuff for him than actual bills.”

“I can imagine.”

I wring my fingers together and take in once again the cosiness of her home. Pride swells in my chest. She has everything I wanted for her. I couldn’t have messed her up that bad if she still knew how to achieve it.

“What are your plans this evening?” she asks, as I pass Gunner the red crayon.

“A hot bath and an early night. Kris is waiting for me to mess up so I make sure I get there earlier than needed.”

“Has she said as much?”

“No, but I know what everyone’s thinking.”

“And what would that be?”

“That this is a phase I’m going through, that it’s only a matter of time before I’m late and calling in sick before quitting.”

“There’s a level of satisfaction when proving people wrong, you might like it.”

Someone knocks at the front door, and it opens without Harper answering.

“Only me,” Alannah chirps like a sickly-sweet bird. Her smile falters when she sees me but like the great masker she is, her facade is back in place.

“I didn’t realise you had company, I’ll come back.”

Deciding to be the bigger person, I say, “Don’t be silly. You’re here now.”

I’ve never cared how she felt after it came out that Harper was Cas’s daughter. It’s not like he cheated on her with me.

“I just stopped by to see how you were getting on with Jay out of town?”

“I’m good. It’s nearly bath time and then Holly and the kids are coming for a sleepover.”

It’s my smile that falters now. I didn’t know she had plans after I leave. She’s probably waiting on me to go so she can get on with her life.

The feeling of being pitied grows stronger as they talk about things I have no idea about and I clear my throat.

“I should get going. Kristen’s early mornings are a killer.”

“The shop doesn’t open until 10a.m. How early does she make you go in?” Alannah asks amused.

“It’s still early for me.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

I kiss Gunner goodbye and tell Harper not to see me out. I escape as quickly as I can and a commotion catches my attention on my way to the car. When I hear, “Lily McCarthy. I know she’s here.” I hide behind the clubhouse. I inch closer to the corner and listen in.

“Look, I don’t know what to tell ya that I haven’t already. She ain’t here.”

“Get me Leo Jackson.”

“Again, he’s out on business.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. What the hell am I going to do? No matter how the club feels about me, they won’t give me up, especially to another club.

The gates rattle as Hopper shoves them and then backs up to his bike.

“I know she’s here somewhere. You tell her to reach out to me, she knows what will happen if she doesn’t.”

I wait to hear him ride away before I step out and head for my car. Then I stop. He and the club know what car I drive. They’ll spot me from a mile away. I backtrack to Harper’s.

“Hey, sorry, but can I borrow your car for the night? Mine’s fucked again…”

“Sure. Let me get the keys.”

I wait on the porch and figure out a different route into town so I don’t run into them.

Once they’re in my hand, I smile and thank her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, before you go, you need to turn your phone on or get a new one. Every time I’ve called you, I’ve gotten your voicemail.”

“Oh, right, yeah. I’ll sort something out.”

I drive toward the gate, but the prospect doesn’t move to open it, he walks in my direction.

“You had some visitors.”

Playing dumb, I lie, “Did I?”

“Yeah, and Leo’s not happy at the company you keep. He said he’ll be talking to you when he gets back.”

I bet he will. And if Leo knows, Slade will now know. And they’re all going to have questions.

Every instinct to run, to skip town, is screaming at me. But this time it’s Harper and Gunner that shuts them down.

I warned the club what I had supposedly heard. Where I’ve been shouldn’t matter. Fuck, even I know that is ridiculous to think that way. Of course it’s going to matter and no one is going to be interested in listening to my reasons.

“Would I be a bad wife if I admitted that I’m looking forward to Slade coming home so I don’t have to cook tonight?” Kristen laughs flipping the open sign to closed.

“Ha. I’m surprised he doesn’t batch cook for you before he leaves town.”

Shyly, she admits, “He does sometimes.”

I knew it. My brother, even after twenty-five years, is still besotted with his old lady.

My longest lasting relationship was with Keith the butcher, who turned out to have the worst mommy issues and I put up with it for nine months because it was a roof over my head. It wasn’t my finest moment, but it wasn’t my worst, not by far.

“Have you got any plans tonight?” she asks, as I run the duster over the glass display counters.

“I’ve got to drop Harper’s car back to her then it’s a night in front of the TV with a meal for one. I’d ask you but I can guess.”

“Don’t you ever think of settling down, Lily, like, seriously? Someone normal and decent, and don’t you say normal is boring.”

“I was actually gonna say you’re married to a biker. You’re hardly the advocate for normal.”

Her mouth opens then snaps shut. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on and she’s just realised it.

“Fair enough. I’ll keep my…” My phone rings cutting her off. I answer and press the phone to my ear. “Hey, Harps. I’m leaving work in a minute and then I’ll bring your car back.”

“I was wondering why this beautiful woman was driving the car I bought for you.”

Hopper.

Heat consumes me and I can’t tell if it’s anger or fear. The shop begins to spin, and I lean on the counter to stay on my feet.

“It’s funny, she looks a lot like you, babe, twenty years ago. I wish I had you then.”

“Don’t hurt her,” I plead.

His laughter has my blood running cold. “Why would I hurt your daughter. I miss you, baby. Come see me and bring pretty Harper’s car back so she can get herself home with the little one. Her and the kid shouldn’t have to see the consequences of your actions.”

Oh God. I force down the ball of fear and ask, “Where are you?”

“We’re at the diner. I’m sure you know where it is.” He hangs up and I numbly collect my purse from the back room.

“Lily? What’s going on?”

I can barely breathe let alone respond to Kristen. I’m halfway to the door when she steps in front of me with her judgy eyes.

“Talk. Now. You told someone not to hurt her… who called and who does this he have?”

I know my sister-in-law well enough to know she isn’t going to move until she gets answers.

“It was my ex, and he has Harper.”

She wasn’t expecting to hear that. I go to step around her but she blocks me again.

“What do you mean, he has Harper? The guys aren’t in town for another couple of hours.”

“It’s fine. He isn’t going to touch her as long as I go to the diner.”

“You sure do get yourself and everyone around you in trouble, don’t you. Harper’s been doing well for such a long time…”

“I know!” I yell. “I’m going to fix it!”

“I’m coming with you.”

She doesn’t bother grabbing her purse, she shoves me out of the shop and locks up.

“You want to pray there’s not a scratch on Harper or not even your brother will be able to save you,” she tells me as we cross the road and head up the street.

I stop outside the diner, out of eyesight of the windows, and inhale as deeply as I can.

“No one is going to be surprised you’ve brought your usual shit back with you to town.”

“Yes, thank you, Kristen. If I didn’t already know I’m a fuck-up, I do now. You don’t have to come in.”

“I’m not going to let you go in there alone, besides, Harper and Gunner are in there!”

“Let’s go then.”

She follows me into the diner and Hopper is in the far corner with my daughter and grandson at his table. They’re not alone, Hopper’s brought the club with him.

Harper’s eyes are slits she has them narrowed so hard. She holds onto her son tightly. Hopper stands when he sees me and meets me halfway.

“There’s the love of my life.” He slides his hand around the front of my neck and pulls me against him.

He slams his lips onto mine and I recoil into myself.

It isn’t a I’ve-missed-you-so-much kiss, this is a reminder of who-owns-me kind of kiss.

I’ve pushed my luck all of my life, but this time, I’m not so sure I'll be so lucky again.

Without making it obvious, he drags me over to the table and non too gently, shoves me into the booth and blocks me in when he sits beside me.

“I was just sayin’ to your daughter it was about time we met.”

I cast my eyes at Harper and she’s glaring at Hopper.

Clearing my throat, I suggest, “We should go, babe.”

Shaking his head, he tells me, “There’s no rush, Lil, I should get to know my new daughter and grandson.”

Kristen inches closer to Harper and Gunner. “They are nothing to do with you.”

Hopper’s laughter catches the attention of the people closest to us and each one of them look away when Hopper shoots them a deathly glare.

“And who are you?”

Kristen sets her shoulders straight and answers, “I’m Harper’s aunt.”

Hopper broadly smiles. “Ah, maybe I’ll get to finally meet your husband. The love of my life’s brother, and of course your son, her nephew.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

My fight or flight is kicking in and all I want to do is run.

Hopper slides his arm around me. “We’ll see.”