Page 1 of Wild Card (Royal Bastards MC: Cody, Wyoming #1)

ONE

Ash

“ Y ou look as happy to be here as I am to see ya.” Byron sniggers as I drop my duffel bag to the floor and take a seat at the table opposite him.

“I’m following Jameson’s orders.” I shrug, taking a look around the old, run-down bar where he insisted we meet.

“Unlike you to follow orders.” His forehead furrows.

“Yeah, well, I’m here, ain’t I?” I sigh impatiently as I slouch back in the chair. “Why are we here and not the clubhouse?” I ask, taking out my smokes and balancing one between my lips.

“Thought you might wanna get yourself settled before you join us, and I wanted a quiet word.”

“Hold up, what are you talkin’ about, settled?” I snap my Zippo back shut and sit up a little straighter.

“Earl’s been kind enough to offer you a room upstairs. I said you'd help out around here to show your appreciation.” I can tell from the grin he’s making that he’s getting off on this shit.

“Byron, I didn’t come here to be a fuckin’ busboy.”

“Earl knows club business has to take priority, I just thought you’d wanna show some gratitude to the old man. He and ya dad were close,” he reminds me.

“You really expect me to stay here?” I look at the man as if he’s lost a fuckin’ screw.

“You got somewhere better to stay?” He laughs.

“I just figured I’d be staying at the clubhouse.”

“Yeah, well, you figured wrong. The clubhouse doesn't have the capacity right now. But we’re working on it.”

“Working on it?” I repeat his words back at him and laugh, myself. “This really fuckin’ sucks.”

“No one forced ya to be here, Wild Card.” Byron’s face turns stern.

“Jameson didn’t make it sound that way to me.

” I swear, the anger in his voice made the whole room shake when he summoned me.

Apparently, our leader ain’t been happy with the way I’ve been conducting myself.

He figured somewhere where my father used to be president would do me some good.

I interpreted it as these guys are in the shit and need someone to pull 'em outta it.

“I’ve heard about your antics. Your attitude stinks, and the only reason you're still wearin’ that cut is because Jameson respected your father.”

“Did you bring me here to offend me before I help you solve your problem, or is this just part of the welcome package?”

“I brought you here to warn ya. This town, and the people in it, mean something to the club. We protect it. We nurture it, and we sure as fuck don’t shit on our own doorstep. While you're here, I expect you to show some respect and play by the rules.”

“Tell me, Prez, if everything's so fuckin’ peachy, why the fuck am I here?” I know that I ain’t the only nomad Jameson’s called in to help out. Menace and Zander are both on route.

“I never said things were fuckin’ peachy…

and you watch your tone when you speak with me, boy,” he warns, tensing his jaw.

“As you will have heard, we’ve lost some members recently.

” The charter president drops his head like he’s battling with his pride.

“Now this drug situation’s gettin’ out of control.

Jameson and I both agree that some young blood will strengthen the pack.

” I can see it hurts the man to admit that he needs help.

Of all the Royal Bastard charters, Cody’s always been the quietest. No trouble ever came outta this little town… Until now.

“How bad is it?” I narrow my eyes.

“I don’t know where this shit is coming from, so I don’t know how to stop it.

” Byron rests back in his chair after lighting a smoke himself.

“All I know is that I got teenagers fuckin’ dying and grieving parents lookin’ to me to fix it.

” Suddenly, I see how tired the man looks.

“You may not remember it that way, but this is a good town, Ash. It’s full of good people.

It’s got heart, it’s got unity, and this infestation is gonna tear all that apart if I can’t get it under control.

” I see how much this town means to him when his eyes start welling up.

“Holy hell, I’m sorry.” The bar door crashes open, and she enters the room like a hurricane.

“This time I swear it wasn’t my fault.” I watch the girl tie her long curly hair up on top of her head as she rushes behind the bar and starts tying an apron around her waist. “Mrs. Fuller’s cockapoo slipped its leash and ran off, you know how that poor woman’s back is.

She can barely stand, let alone go hunting for a dog.

I keep telling her she needs to book an appointment with Clayton, but you know how stubborn she can be.

I had to help her look for him, the poor thing’s getting old and has cataracts.

That’s the dog, not Mrs. Fuller.” She eventually stops to take a breath.

“Who knows where the poor thing might have ended up?” She smiles so sweetly at Earl when she’s done.

“Ash…ASH!” Byron yelling my name pulls all my attention back to him.

“Are you even listening to what I’m telling ya?” he questions me.

“Sure. Drug problem, heart, and unity. I hear ya.” I turn my head back toward her because I ain’t ever seen a girl as pretty as she is before.

She ain’t all painted up and pushed together like the club whores I’m used to seeing.

In fact, I don’t think she’s wearing any makeup at all, and when she picks up a pad, slides a pencil behind her ear, and starts walking toward our table, my mouth instantly goes dry.

“Usual, Byron?” She picks up the napkin holder and wipes a cloth over our table.

“Not for me, thanks, Ruby. I ain’t stoppin’ long.” He smiles at her.

“How about you?” Her eyes lock on mine, and I swear something starts tugging at my insides.

“I’ll take a beer.” I clear my throat and try to get a handle on myself. Females don’t ever affect me in this way.

“Coming right up.” Her smile makes my dick hard, before she breezes back off to where she came from, and I take a breath before I look back at Byron.

“Off- fucking-limits,” he warns me with a snarl.

I was just about to ask him who she is and if she belongs to anyone, but I can see that wouldn’t go down well right now.

I shouldn’t let myself get distracted anyway.

I’m here to do a job and to get back in Jameson’s good books.

The sooner I do it, the sooner I can fuck off back to my life of solitude.

“I ain’t here for pussy, Byron,” I assure him, though I can’t help wondering what hers would taste like.

“Good, cause there ain’t no time for it. Kids are dying, townsfolk are starting to panic, and I won’t have us lose control. I sure as hell don’t want the authorities puttin’ our little town on their radar.

“I hear ya.” I nod my head.

“Glad to hear it. Get yourself settled in, we have a charter meeting first thing in the morning. It’ll prepare you for your first assignment tomorrow night.”

“What's happening tomorrow night?” I check, hoping to hell it’s gonna involve some action.

“There's a party happening down at the lake; they’ll be college kids there looking to score, which means there will be someone there to supply. I want eyes and fuckin’ ears there.

The sooner we find out who's bringing this shit into our town, the sooner we can eliminate the problem and you can disappear back into the void.”

“Jeez, you really don’t want me here, do ya?” I laugh at him.

“What do you find so funny about that?” Byron frowns, allowing me to see how much my humour pisses him off.

“The fact you can hate me, without even knowing me. Or maybe you just see me as a threat. There were no troubles in this town when my dad was president.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Ash. You're just a reckless, obnoxious kid who’s earned himself a reputation.

You weren’t raised by your daddy, and I’m pretty sure he gave you an easy ride during your prospect probation to make up for it.

Look how you thanked him for that.” He smiles because he knows his words fuckin’ hurt, even if I act like they don’t.

“The club and this town welcome you, Ash. But we won’t tolerate your shit.

” His chair scrapes on the wood floor as he stands up, then, with a nod of his head toward Earl, he heads out the door.

“Wow, what did you say to him to make him so grumpy?” A voice comes from the table behind me, and when I turn around and see the girl clearing it, she stops what she’s doing and moves to sit in the newly vacant seat opposite me.

“Ruby Saunders.” She holds out her hand, and I take it without hesitation. It’s so small and dainty inside mine, I could easily crush it, and when she goes to retract it, I almost fuckin’ do.

“Ash Rivers. Club brothers call me Wild Card,” I introduce myself to her.

“Wild Card.” She tests out my name and at least acts as if she’s impressed. “Sounds like there's a story behind that.”

“There’s always a story.” I smile back at her, wondering if her hair feels as soft as it looks. I want to trail it through my fingers and smell it.

“You wanna tell it to me?” She wets her lips a little with her tongue, and it makes them even more fuckin’ desirable. I don’t think I’ve ever paid so much attention to a female in my life, but with this one, I don’t wanna miss a single thing.

“Maybe one day.” I grip my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching out for her hand again.

“Oh shit, your beer.” She quickly stands up, sending her chair flying backward, and looks all flustered as she crouches down to pick it up.

“I’m sorry, I’m a real scatter-brain; I swear Earl only hires me because he knew my momma.” She laughs, and when I get up to help her, she stands up far quicker than I expected, and we butt heads.

“Fuck…I’m sorry.” She swallows thickly. “Did I mention I was clumsy, too?” Her giggle is infectious, and as she strokes the bump on her head, I feel my heart beating far too fast.

“That was my fault,” I assure her, liking the way her cheeks are flushing pink; they match the colour of her lips now.

“I better get you that beer.” She smiles adorably before scurrying off toward the bar, and I retake my seat, watching her every move and wondering why it makes everything inside me ache.

“There she is.” My head turns toward the door, and I hurt a little more when the guy who steps through it heads straight for her.

“How's my girl today?” He kisses her for everyone who's here to see, and when his hand freely reaches around her body and squeezes her ass, something dark and unfamiliar rushes through my blood.

“Brett, I’m at work.” She blushes, this time for him, and although I’ve only known the girl five goddamn minutes, I fuckin’ hate it.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” she questions him.

“I am, but I took a break so I could come tell you that we’re going somewhere special tomorrow night.

” He’s still not letting go of that grasp he’s got on her ass, despite how uncomfortable she’s looking.

“One of my dad’s top investors is retiring, and I’m taking you as my plus one to his party.

Now, I’ll warn you, it’s gonna be fancy.

I don’t want you turning up in those cowgirl boots. ” He laughs as he looks down at them.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with my cowgirl boots.” She laughs back at him.

“Well, no, but it ain’t gonna hurt to make an impression on these people. One day, I’m hoping these investors will be mine. I got big plans, baby, you know that.”

“Here ya go.” Earl slams my beer on the table. “Grab your bag, kid, I’ll show you to ya room.” I get up and lift my bag from the floor, keeping my eyes on Ruby and taking my beer with me as I follow Earl to the door that leads out back.

“Now it ain’t nothin’ special, but it’ll keep the rain off ya head,” he tells me as we climb the narrow staircase up to the corridor. “I got a stock truck arriving at seven am tomorrow, it’s gonna need unloading,” he informs me as he opens the door.

“ Seven am? ” I repeat. I can’t remember the last time I saw seven am. Is the sun even up at that time?

“Good, ain’t nothin’ wrong with ya hearin’.” He chuckles as he steps inside. “You got a good view of the town, a private bathroom, and there ain’t no fuckin’ turndown service. Got any questions?” He looks at me.

“Yeah, who’s that guy downstairs talkin’ to Ruby?” I ask, dropping my bag on the mattress and taking a look out the window onto the street. I’ll bet that the Mercedes parked right out front belongs to him.

“Listen, son, you know I go way back with your daddy. He was a good friend, so I’ll offer you some advice. You stay clear of that shit, ya hear?”

Saying that to a guy like me is like a red rag to a bull.

“That guy downstairs is Brett Porter; he’s Mayor Porter's son, and in this town, the Royal Bastards heel to him,” he warns

“Royal Bastards heel to no one.” I huff a laugh back at him.

“Yeah, well, Byron’s wise enough to know who to pick his battles with. Right now, Cody’s got its mayor, sheriff, and its outlaw bikers all singing from the same hymn sheet. We don’t need nobody upsetting that.” He turns his back and goes to walk out.

“And is that how my father would have run things? By heeling?” I call after him.

“You know it ain’t, but he ain’t here anymore, and Byron knows what he’s doing. Don’t go stirring things up, Wild Card.” He smirks at me as he closes the door behind him, and as I look out the window and watch Brett Porter get back inside his fancy car, I shake my head.

“Can’t make no promises, old man.” I snigger to myself.