“Yeah, I got your message. What do you want?” Cas asks.
“I want to meet. You and two of your men and me and two of my men.”
“I don’t see what we have to meet about,” Cas says.
“You’ll see when we meet. You want to hear what I have to offer,” Joe says confidently. “Or I can pay your old lady another visit, she looks fuckin’ hot when she’s bleedin’ all over the place. Or maybe I should come and get my sister back, I know she’s shacked up with you fuckers again. I know how you pricks like to be heroes with your women,” he goads.
“Why would you bait me when I’m more likely to kill you on sight at a meet than to hear your offer?” Cas drools calmly, not letting his anger show in his voice.
“Because I have been watchin’ you all for months. I know who to hurt first and your conscious couldn’t bear the long list I have in my hand, as we speak, of the addresses of your brothers and families. If anythin’ happens to me, my men are ready to take out everyone you love.”
Cas’s tense jaw is fighting not to argue. Hunter very nearly destroyed his life, now his son is threatening the same.
“Tomorrow, midday at Hanks Diner. You pull any shit and we’ll take you out,” Cas warns him.
“I just want a civilised conversation.”
“Midday at Hanks Diner,” Cas repeats and hangs up. “He’s a dead man walkin’,” Cas growls.
“No doubt about it brother,” Oak agrees.
“We’ll see what he wants and take him out,” Pope offers.
“No, I suggested the diner for its public protection. If it comes to a fight, we will have the town as witnesses. I’ll take Sparky and Pope with me, the rest of you plot up around town. You hear gunshots, come shootin’. After we’ve heard what he’s got to say, we’ll make plans to take them out once they’re out of our town.”
“Jackets?” Pope asked.
He is asking if we need to cover our cuts to the public.
“The town knows who we are but with two clubs together, maybe cover ups will make the other customers a little less anxious. We’ll leave here an hour before and wait them out. No one be late.”
Cas brings the gavel down and we all get up from the table.
“Time to celebrate,” Oak proposes.
“Or commiserate?” Slade teases.
I punch him on the arm and laugh. I am on cloud fucking nine, no one can bring me down today.
“Celebrate it is,” he laughs with me.
The prospects begin preparing our drinks when they see us coming. Bonnie and Alannah are sitting at the bar and Cas and I make our way over to them.
With everything that has gone on in the last twenty-four hours, I forgot I have some humble pie to eat with Barbie.
“Hey Barbs,” I start.
“Jason,” she glares.
Okay…she hasn’t forgotten.
“I want to say sorry for the way I spoke to you yesterday, I wasn’t fair to you and should never said what I did.”
“No big deal. I’m just happy you two have finally got yourselves together,” she smiles.
“Me too,” I say, putting my arm around Bonnie.
“Not again,” she moans and rushes out of my arms and towards the bathroom.
“Is she okay?” I ask, watching the door close behind her.
“Morning sickness Sparks, she’s fine. Anyway, congratulations!” she grins and jumps down off the stool and into my arms.
“You’ll make a great daddy,” she says, quietly.
“I hope so,” I whisper back.
“Has my brother got a drink yet?” Oak calls from the other end of the bar.
All of a sudden, my end of the bar is lined with drinks from bottles of beer to shots of my favourite, tequila.
Bonnie returns looking sheepish. My brothers fully make her one of us, all congratulating her on our kid and her as my old lady. They’re careful not to hug her not too tight in case she has to run off to the bathroom again, telling her if I’m ever not around and she needs anything to let them know and they will get it for her. My woman, my kid, my brothers, my family. Life is fucking good.
Everyone is having a good time, Bonnie is relaxing as much as she can between puking and joining in conversations. I worry about this sickness though. Three times in the last hour she has had to run to the bathroom. She assures me it’s normal.
“Is there a reason why I’m getting death glares from her?” Bonnie whispered close beside me.
“Who from?” I ask, scanning the room.
“The one you paraded by me the night I left,” she spits.
Oh fuck, I don’t need this now, not today.
I look for Jilly and see her standing by the pool table. She looks pissed off.
I can’t be having this. She has always known the score between us. She has no right to act up now.
“Forget about her, I have.”
“Have you?”
“Don’t start Bon. I told you I wouldn’t go near anyone else and I won’t. Have some faith, trust me,” I urge, hating that Jilly is trying to ruin this before it really begins.
“I know, I’m sorry. I feel like shit and it’s going to my head. I’m going to go lay down for a bit, see if I feel better later.”
“Want me to come with?” I offer.
She really does look like crap.
“No, you stay and party. I’m just going to sleep,” she says.
I bend down slightly and kiss her softly, I know she will be happy with this show in front of Jilly.
“Call if you need me to come up,” I smile and hand her my keys. “Stay in my room, I’ll get a prospect up later to move your crap,” I wink.
She says goodbye to Alannah and heads up the stairs. As soon as she gone, I make my way over to Jilly and pull her to the side of the room.
“What you fuckin’ playin’ at?”
She knows I’m not fucking around.
“Just trying to work out what you see in her? You always said you wouldn’t take on an old lady. Is it because you knocked her up?” she says feistily.
“It’s got fuckin’ nothin’ to do with you. I never once gave you the impression I wanted more, so stop the jealous shit and stay away from Bonnie. I’m serious Jilly, make her unhappy again and it won’t be just me who gets upset. You get me,” I warn her.
“I get you,” she reluctantly agrees.
“Good, ‘cos this is a celebration so put a smile on your face and let’s fuckin’ celebrate,” I say, turning my back on her.
Alannah watches me as I return to the couches. I slump down beside her and raise my bottle of beer to her.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she replies, clinking her bottle to mine.
“I was warnin’ her off.”
“I know, don’t worry. I won’t get you in trouble over nothing,” she giggles.
Chapter Sixteen
Sparky...
Bonnie’s morning sickness scares the crap out of me. She tells me she is fine but she can’t lie for shit. Leaving her in bed this morning was hard. My protective nature was out in full force and the only thing that got me out of the club was the fact we are meeting Joe today, together with Alannah’s promise to keep an eye on her and call me if she gets worse.
“Stop lookin’ at that fuckin’ thing,” Cas growled, pointing to my phone.
“Sorry, I worry. She didn’t look good this mornin’.”
“Lana said she will call if she needs you, now put it away. I need you here with us.”
I put it in my cut pocket and ignore Pope’s small chuckle at my expense.
The diner isn’t particularly busy but it has enough customers to think about if shit gets out of hand.
And time to find out. The door opens and in walk three Ghost Riders. I know of the vice president, Tommy Sanders. When Hunter was alive and their president, Tommy, was his sergeant-at-arms who was a vicious fucker who took every pleasure in torturing his victims. The guy wearing the road chief badge I don’
t recognise. He looks out of place and out of his depth. The last guy in must be Bonnie’s brother. He struts like a man who doesn’t think there is a bullet ready to be put in his head. I guess the next five minutes we’ll know if he is just plain stupid or cold and calculating like his father.
They sit around the other side of the large round table that we took that is normally used for large families that come here.
“This is Tommy, my VP, and Hook, my Sergeant-at-Arms,” Joe introduces.
“Sparky,” Cas points to me. “Pope,” he points to him. “Let’s get down to why we’re here.”
Joe begins to ramble on about how he is expanding the Ghost Riders territory. I should be listening but I catch Tommy outright staring at me. His eyes are cold and hard. I hold his stare and wait for him to back down first. He doesn’t.
I tune back in to Joe still rambling on about territory, all the while staring at Tommy.
“Get to the point Joe. Do I look like I’m here to listen to your fuckin’ high hopes and dreams?” Cas quips.
“You look tired if I’m honest. Don’t worry though, I’m here to take your club from you. Hand it over and I’ll let you all live,” he smirks.
I tear my eyes away from Tommy and look at Joe. The fucker is being serious. It’s what makes it more hilarious.
“Oh you are? What makes you think for one second I’d hand over my club? By the looks of it, you ain’t runnin’ shit. One thing I’ll give your old man, he knew how to run his men. Had us chasin’ him for fuckin’ years. You, you are just tryin’ to fill his boots. You ain’t takin’ shit. I don’t know how you found Bonnie at the cabin but you ain’t got no men in this town. I also know you dumb fucks rode into town on your own. If I raise my hand, you three are dead in the chairs you sit on.”
“Thought you’d be like this,” he laughed.
“Don’t see why you’d think any different. Now I’ve had enough of this shit. Ride out of town and don’t come back. My eyes have changed position around here and you’ll be shot down before you get too close again,” Cas warned, also lying.
They’ll be shot down regardless of their location by the end of the week.
“You’ll regret this Cas. I will take your club out.” Joe warned, pushing his chair back as he stood with his two men standing with him.
“You’re delusional if you think that’s gonna happen. Your father had the same plan as you. How’s he gettin’ on with that?” Cas asked, knowing the reaction he would get.
“I still owe you for his death.”
“I’ll tell you what, when you grow up and can actually fit into your father’s boots and can run a club, come back and talk to me then. We can start a war over this but we both know we outnumber you, out fuckin’ rank you so you would lose. Go home and clean house before trying to play with the big boys Joe.”
Cas’s darker side is showing itself now. The calm Cas is slipping away. If they don’t leave soon, this will turn into a full on fight right here in the diner.
“We’re goin’. Think I’ll stop by that cabin of yours and pick my sister up, it’s about time she came home,” Joe said.
“I wouldn’t waste your time, she isn’t there,” I say, standing myself.
I’ve sat quietly all this time. Now he is talking about taking my woman and he doesn’t know it yet, but he soon will. I’ll make it clear she is lost to him forever.
“Where is she?” said Tommy, speaking also for the first time.
“She’s at home, where she belongs,” I say.
“Like fuck she is. If she were, she wouldn’t be in this shit pot of a town. Where is she?” he grounds out.
“Like my brother has told you, she is at home. She made her decision to stay. Makes sense what with her carryin’ a Lost Souls kid in her belly,” Pope retorted.
All three Ghost Riders stand taller, mouths gaping open.
Tommy begins shaking with anger. This is going to get out of hand, and very quickly.
“She is mine,” he says, through gritted teeth.
I step forward and smile cruelly, even though I have questions forming for Bonnie as soon as I get back. Like, what the fuck?
“No, she’s mine and it’s my kid she’s havin’,” I tell him.
“You’re dead.”
He reaches into his cut and pulls out his piece and points it directly at me. I don’t show any fear. I would be pissed if I died now at the hands of a Ghost Rider in my own town, especially as I have just got my life sorted but I stand tall and show no fear.
“Put it down Tommy,” Joe demands.
We stand there staring each other out until I really think he is going to shoot me.
“I suppose she hasn’t told you we’re gettin’ married. Bitch had been plannin’ it for months. Eventually she will come home and when she does I’ll soon get rid of the intruder inside her,” he sneers.
I snap and go to rush forward. Cas and Pope are immediately on me.
“Get out of here before I forget we have witnesses,” Cas shouts, still trying to keep a hold on me.
Tommy never takes his cold, hard eyes off me as Joe and Hook attempt to push him out of the diner.
When they’re out of sight, Cas and Pope release me and go off to sort damage control with Hank. I remain where I am standing, unable to filter through everything I’ve learned today.
Yesterday we were celebrating the beginning of a new life together, a life I always shied away from. I steered clear from relationships because I knew if I lost the most important thing in my life, which Bonnie has become, it would destroy me. Only she was never mine to lose in the first place.
“Looks like your girl isn’t so innocent after all,” Pope murmurs, as he passes to leave.
“Don’t listen to him Sparks. You know she was runnin’, makes sense to run from Tommy don’t you think?”
“I intend to find out.”
No wonder she never wants to talk to me about her past. She was shacked up with Tommy fucking Sanders.
Bonnie
I told Sparky I didn’t want to know anything to do with the club or my brother, but I know he is meeting him today with Cas and the quiet one called Pope.
I remind myself Sparky was in the middle of the shooting and fighting when they went to rescue Alannah, and he handled himself then. Today should be a breeze for him. I don’t trust my brother though. Not knowing how it is going was driving me mad stuck in bed. Throwing my clothes on, I went down into the bar where I’ve been sitting chatting with Alannah.
“How long will this sickness last?” she asks.
“Hopefully not too much longer, I can’take much more,” I moan.
“What do you think your brother wants with them?” she asks.
She is nervous too.
“I honestly don’t know. If I did I would’ve told Cas.”
“I’m sorry, I just hate waiting on them.”
“I know how you feel.”
They have been gone a few hours now. One of the prospects is listening to a scanner to see if a call comes in about trouble at the diner. So far he hasn’t heard a thing. No news is good news so I am told.
“Tell me what your plans are now you’re sticking around,” she asks.
“Everything has changed. I was content to do this on my own, but with Sparky around, I’m happy for once. Sparky wants to look for a house, just for us,” I beam.
“Aw Bon, I’m so happy for you. You deserve to be happy and who better to snap up other than Mr Muscles himself.”
We have hit the jackpot with our men. We sit talking about babies until Pope comes marching through the door, shrugging out of his jacket.
“When he comes in, don’t lie to him,” he warns me as he passes and continues up the stairs.
“What the hell happened?” Alannah calls out but he doesn’t stop. “Don’t worry Bon, I’m sure it’s fine.”
Something has happened. I don’t just feel sick anymore, I feel everything falling through my fingers and I don’t even know the
cause of it.
Time to find out. Sparky, Cas, Slade and the rest of them come through the door and none of them look happy.
I put on a smile when he sees me, but it soon disappears when he doesn’t return it. If anything he works harder to keep composure. Like Pope, he doesn’t stop, only to pull me by the arm with him.
I look back to a frowning Alannah. Cas is leaning into her and whispering in her ear. She stands still and looks away from me. Oh God, this isn’t good.
Once we’re in his room, I pull my arm out of his hand roughly. That’s right, me, Bonnie Hamilton, standing up for myself. I told myself I would never let a man hurt me again and that goes for Sparky too.
“One more time Bonnie, is there anythin’ you want to fuckin’ tell me?” he asks.
His tone is calm but you can still hear the pain and anger singeing the edge of his voice.
“What happened?” I ask.
I don’t want to have to admit to anything I don’t want to.
“Thought you didn’t want to know about club business or your brother?”
“You dragging me up here tells me I’m going to find out anyway,” I snap.
“I asked you if I needed to know anythin’ about your past. You made me feel like shit for keep askin’.”
“There isn’t anything you need to know,” I shout, interrupting him. I am not doing this again.
“Don’t you think I should have fuckin’ known you’re meant to be gettin’ married to Tommy Sanders? Got a fetish for VP’s do ya? Is that where you disappeared to when you left? Go back to Tommy did ya? You sure that kid ain’t his?” he shouts.
I flinch and step back.
“You believe him?” I whisper.
After everything we have been through, one meet with Tommy and my brother and everything crumbles.
“I don’t hear you fuckin’ denyin’ it,” he shouts.
It’s now or never. If I don’t tell him I will lose him forever. I begin to shake, the tears come and refuse to stop no matter how hard I wipe my eyes with my sleeve.
“Stop the tears. You’ve been playin’ me for months. You told me you were mine but you were never mine to fuckin’ have,” he screams.