Page 111 of Indecent Lies

“I mean, wow.” She breathed out. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“Welcome to Armado Springs, baby.” Tait said, tight lipped.

He was tense and she didn’t know why.

Only, three of the bikers came over to their table and she braced for another showdown. It must be the week for them.

“What was the look?” It was the same man who’d gotten in Tait’s face on the street. Handsome. Hispanic. Goatee. Eyes full of hate glaring at Tait.

“What you talking about?”

“Don’t pussy me around, you shared a look with the Russian.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Capone.”

“Fuck you,ese.” The one she knew as Snake pulled Capone back and told him to leave it. Tait picked up his drink and drank slowly.

Capone was not finished when he leaned both hands on their table and glared directly in Tait’s face. “We all saw it. A new low for you, money man. Why the fuck I’m surprised, I don’t know.” Then he stalked away.

“I hope he’s wrong, brother.” Snake said solemnly and he too walked off.

Tait was quiet on the drive home.

He didn’t speak when she took off her coat and boots.

Not a word when they stood in the kitchen while she made them a snack.

And only as she was brushing her teeth, did he stand in the doorway.

“Remember what I said about going to the MC?”

Her heart thumped hard with foreboding.

She looked at him through the mirror in front of her. nodding with a mouthful of foam.

“Okay, good. Get some sleep, little girl, I’m gonna paint downstairs.”

He didn’t come to bed.

He didn’t slide in and cuddle her as she wanted and Poppy also didn’t sleep.

She had a gut churning feeling that what Capone accused him of was true.

TWENTY-SIX

“Whatever the struggles, he went home to a queen.” – Rider

The welcoming scents of home brought Rider out of biker Prez mode and into family mode the moment he stepped through the garage door that led into the mudroom, where he kicked off his boots and discarded his denim jacket onto a hook.

It was only when he locked up behind him that he felt the wash of peace he always got coming through that door.

His Zara had been cooking again from the smells, and honestly, he’d eat shit if she put it in front of him because she got this big smile of happiness on her face when she tried new recipes.

Sure as hell some of her culinary experiments burned straight down to his gut, but he’d never tell her that.

He didn’t call out, not knowing how many of the kids were sleeping, so he tracked through their house on silent feet and found Zara with her little popped pregnant belly on the floor changing Knox’s diaper while Harper hovered nearby holding her numbered blocks in each hand.

“Hey, baby.” He said and was rewarded with his Icy girl’s smile.