Page 7 of Ruger (Riders of Retribution #2)

Ruger

My morning with Marigold is something right out of a dream. She’s insatiable, and I give her another round before helping her into the shower. Then, this girl makes me breakfast from the scant amount of groceries I have in my kitchen.

I’m going to have to hit the supermarket today. She’s clearly a miracle worker if she can make delicious meals out of hardly anything, and I’d love to find out what she can do with a stocked fridge.

Part of my duty in keeping an eye on Marigold is driving her to the library for her shifts.

Apparently, Blade would take her in a car, but it’s obvious my girl loves riding as a backpack.

So, I dig out a helmet from deep within my coat closet, and leave a little early to take her on a joyride before she has to go into to work.

God, I didn’t want her to go. In fact, I almost suggest we both take the day off and spend it in bed, but then the library comes into view, and I see the way Marigold lights up. If her job makes her happy, I’m not going to keep her from it. Besides, I’ll have her all to myself later today.

So, after watching her enter the building, I head over to the garage that the Riders of Retribution owns. I’ve been working there since I became a member. Using my hands to make machines work gives me a strong sense of satisfaction, and might as well be considered my therapy.

I’m about halfway through my workday, elbow deep in the engine of a sedan, when my phone rings in my back pocket.

With a grunt, I straighten myself out, wiping my hands on an oil cloth before pulling out the device.

Caller ID says that it’s from the prison that Blade is locked up in, so I answer immediately.

The automated system informs me that I’m receiving a call from an inmate and asks if I’d like to accept. After saying yes, I’m pushed through, and I say, “Hey man, how’s life on the inside?”

Blade is quiet, which isn’t a good sign. My best friend is talkative, even when he’s pissed.

“What the hell happened, man?” I ask, injecting humor into my voice. “Or did you just call me to breathe heavy on the line like a fucking creep?”

“Oh, I’m the creep?” he says, speaking for the first time, his words venom.

“Jesus, Blade,” I say, scratching the back of my head and walking into the back lot to get a little bit of privacy. “Could you be any more cryptic?”

“I think you know exactly what the fuck I’m talking about,” he spits.

And, yeah. I think I do. The only reason he’d be this mad is if he knew something happened between me and his sister. I have no idea how he found out, though. So, I decide to play dumb.

“I’m not a mindreader,” I say skeptically. “So, no. I don’t know exactly what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“You’re a fucking dog, Ruger,” he tells me, obviously not buying my lie. I don’t say anything in response, waiting for him to continue. “I just got off the phone with Marigold. And she told me something very interesting.”

I grunt. There’s no point in denying anymore, but I’m not about to dig my grave any deeper. Honestly, if I do, he’s likely to say something that’ll get him in trouble with the officer monitoring our phone call. There’s no reason to rile him up any further.

“You going to say anything?” Blade asks, clearly trying to goad me into speaking.

I keep my mouth shut though, reminding myself that working him up isn’t good for either of us.

If he yells at me, I’ll accept it without complaint.

I already knew the risks when I kissed Marigold.

I knew them and did it anyway. I figured that this would come eventually, I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.

He scoffs, and I can imagine the way he’s scowling on the other end. Then, he says, “You really thought it was okay to make a move on my sister? Man, I trusted you to take care of her, not to fuck her.”

“Why are you acting like I’m hurting her?” I shoot back, unable to help myself.

I know he’s protective, but he has to know me better than this. Even if I’ve never held down a relationship, I don’t string girls along. I’m not going to use Marigold and throw her aside. The fact that he’s even suggesting that makes me see red.

“Because she’s sensitive, Ruger,” Blade says. “I don’t need you breaking her heart or ruining her life. I’ve spent my whole fucking life protecting her from people like you, and the second I get locked up, you swoop in like a fuckin’ lion on a gazelle.”

“Are you forgetting that you and I are the same, Blade?” I shoot back.

Then, before he can say anything else, I take a deep breath and try to get my head back to a level place.

“Look, I’m not hurting her, and I’m not forcing her.

You told me to protect her, and I will. You know that.

I wouldn’t do anything to her that she doesn’t want. ”

My words hang between us. The only sound is the crackle of the line and the movement of other inmates in the background. If it weren’t for that, I’d assume he hung up on me.

Honestly, I can’t say I’d blame him if he did.

Finally, he speaks, saying, “And you won’t do anything with her or to her ever again.”

I stay quiet, my stomach dropping. I want to argue, to tell him that she’s an adult and can make her own decisions.

I’ve already betrayed his trust and the chaplain’s.

So, effectively, by sleeping with Marigold, I’ve let the entire MC down.

I’m not going to let her go, I’m going to fight for her, but now is not the time to bring that up.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Blade says, his voice cold.

It’s the same voice I’ve heard him use when we’re dealing with our rivals or with criminals.

I’ve never been on the receiving end of it.

“You’re going to take Marigold and all of her things back to our house.

And you’re not going to contact her anymore.

You’re not going to visit her. Actually, you’re not even going to think about her. ”

“Understood,” I grit out, already trying to figure out how to circumvent his rules.

“Good.” There’s a noise on the other end I don’t recognize.

I think I hear him talking to someone else, then he returns his attention to me.

“Now, I’m going to hang up and give the chaplain a call.

I’m going to make sure there are guys keeping an eye on the house to make sure Marigold is safe and that you aren’t there.

It’s fuckin’ obvious I can’t trust anyone to be alone with her. ”

“Understood,” I repeat, but I doubt he hears it. Before the words are even out of my mouth, the line goes dead.

I stand there, staring at the vehicles in the back lot. For a while, my brain stays empty, buzzing as I process the quick conversation. I’ve never been scolded like that by anyone in the MC before. It’s a lot to take in.

Finally, my mind starts to work again.

Blade has never been known for making good decisions when he’s upset. That’s the whole reason he got locked up. He’s a good guy, but he’s a fucking hothead. This decision that he’s making is the same kind of knee-jerk reaction he had that got him caught by the police.

He’s putting Marigold in danger because he’s upset over what happened between us.

Taking a deep breath, I start to put together a plan. I can’t just keep Marigold at my house. If Blade is going to our chaplain, defying his orders means defying the MC. I’m already in hot water there, so anything further could just make things worse for me.

If I get any sort of disciplinary action, that could only put Marigold in more danger. I might have been instructed to leave her alone, but I’m still committed to keeping her safe. Protecting her is my top priority, and that means from here on out, I have to be careful in my actions.

With a sigh, I head back inside the garage. I need time to figure out how I’m going to approach this. I make a plan the only way I know how, with my hands dirty and under the hood of a vehicle.