Road to Destiny (Scorpio Stinger MC Book 5) Page 4

  Jade stiffened. She wasn’t quite buying my story and I couldn’t blame her.

  Fuck, I’m just trying to protect her. At least that’s what I told myself to soothe my conscience.

  She’d feel obliged to warn Mia, and that would just snowball into a cluster-fuck of epic proportions. And if she believed my life was threatened—even if it wasn’t certain yet—the worry could be disastrous for our babies.

  For the thousandth time that day I wished there was an easier solution, one that didn’t involve me insisting that Jade move into the compound with me, especially now, when everything was going so well.

  “Is the club in lockdown?” She pushed me away and stood up from the bed, both her hands on her hips, her head tilted to one side.

  “Yes, baby.” My gaze raked over her naked body, taking in her bump, her fuller tits and wider hips before it came to rest on her gorgeous face.

  Her cheeks were flushed. “How long do we have to stay there?” A degree of panic had slipped into her voice and it cut me like a knife.

  I rose from the bed, my cock soft as I stood in front of her. I reached for her but she took a step backwards.

  Stormy eyes flashed at me. “Answer me, Ryder.”

  “I can’t tell for certain. We have to stay as long as it takes.” At least that’s not a lie.

  Jade’s palm rubbed big circles over her belly. “But I need to see the doctor and how am I going to organize the wedding if we have to stay at the compound indefinitely? We need to see people, choose what we want . . . that kind of thing.”

  The wedding? Fuck. Of course.

  I swiped a hand over my stubble. This was a lot harder than what I’d imagined. I hated disappointing Jade but I didn’t really have any other options. “Babe, we may have to move the wedding date. I’m sorry, but I don’t have all the answers.” I could kick myself that I hadn’t thought of all of this earlier, but the wedding had faded to the back of my mind after what Cobra told me.

  Jade bit into her lower lip. Her eyes were misty, and she blinked way too fast. I reached out and with my index finger, I loosened her lip and pressed my fingertips to her mouth. “Jade, baby, don’t get upset. It’s not good for you and the babies, or for me, to be honest. I can’t handle it when you cry.”

  Her voice cracked. “And I can’t handle it that the club always comes first. I thought we were a family now, Ryder.”

  Her words hit me like a slap in the face, hard and cold. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You are—”

  She poked a finger into my chest. “I’m upset and disappointed. I thought the babies and I are what’s most important to you. If it’s nothing that serious, I don’t see why we have to give up living here to be holed up in the concrete hell you call the compound.” Her eyes narrowed again and her lips grew thin. “Unless of course you’re not telling me the truth, and that hurts even more.”

  I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Damned if I did and damned if I didn’t. It was times like these that I remembered my pledge to never fall for a woman, but of course that was all before I met Jade and she spun my world on its axis.

  Was Jade really ever going to fit into my world? Did she have it in her to give up her life of luxury and freedom to be with me even if she didn’t know the full reason why? It was a lot to ask of anyone, but wasn’t that what love was all about?

  I sighed. “Jade, I just need you to trust me. Please. Can you do that? It’s just temporary. I’ll do everything I can to get us back home as soon as I can, okay?”

  Fuck, I was ready to go on my knees if that would help. I had to support Cobra and protect my woman at the same time and there was only one way to do it, even if it was the way she hated.

  She nodded and her eyes softened. “I trust you, Ryder. I always have. So I’ll do what you ask of me, but know that I’m not happy about it. I’ll need to see the doctor, and I’ll need to make sure that the babies are okay.”

  “Of course. I’ll get the doc to come see you whenever you need. Your health and theirs is the most important thing to me, but you have to understand that I also have a commitment to Cobra and the club.” I took her hands in mine and pressed them against my chest. “I promise I’ll make it up to you, baby. Now come back to bed.”

  I pulled her down with me and held her against my chest while stroking her hair.

  We didn’t get to talk much for the rest of the night, and I certainly didn’t get to eat pussy. As much as any man believed that he was in control of most situations in a relationship, and especially the fucking department, that just wasn’t true.

  Jade was her usual sweet self, but there was a rift between us, the gap wide enough that I had no idea how to overcome it. I could fix most things—hell, I could fix almost anything. But when two people came from such different backgrounds and had such opposing ways of doing things, it was beyond my capability. Talking wasn’t going to solve anything, and the more worry gnawed at me the more I shut down.

  I held Jade tight for the rest of the night, barely sleeping as I contemplated how my life had changed yet some things were still the same. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, I decided that all I could do was to deal with issues as they came up to the best of my ability.

  Jade and I didn’t speak much during breakfast. I’d listened to her soft breathing all night long, grateful that she was able to get some rest.

  When Hammer arrived to pick Jade up as arranged, I helped to pack some of the creature comforts into the SUV.

  “Drive carefully, brother. You have precious cargo here,” I said with a wry smile as I rubbed over Jade’s belly.

  “Of course. Jade is safe with me. Much better than on the back of your bike.” Hammer winked at Jade, and she smiled warmly at him.

  Jade kissed me lightly on the cheek before she got into the vehicle and drove off with Hammer. I was almost relieved that I wasn’t driving with them, because although Jade pretended she was okay, I knew better. Yet there wasn’t much I could do about it.

  Our enemies had the upper hand.

  Those crazy fuckers would use any means possible to get to the Scorpio Stingers, and we had to ensure that we gave them as few opportunities to strike as possible. They had declared war by taking out a contract on our president, and soon we’d know who else they were targeting. Collateral damage was part of the deal in the biker world and somebody was bound to get hurt or killed, but I was going to make fucking sure it wasn’t any member of my family.

  Sooner or later, Cobra was going to have to fill everyone in on the why and the how, but he had to have the talk with Mia first, and I didn’t envy him that conversation for a moment. Until then, we had to sit tight. And most of all, we had to stand together.

  I started the Harley and followed the SUV, leaving a small gap between us but never letting the vehicle out of my sight.

  I was glad Cobra had sent Hammer. Of all the guys, he was the smartest and also the most capable of making Jade feel a little more at ease. He could make her laugh, and right now I was hoping he was achieving that so Jade would be in a better frame of mind when we reached our new temporary home.

  I was determined to make Jade’s stay there as pleasant as possible. She trusted me enough to uproot her from her familiar life to go there just because I’d asked her.

  As soon as everyone was settled and we had a plan of action, I’d have to work out what to do about the contract. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to stop those motherfuckers in their tracks by whatever means were necessary.

  But most of all, I had to protect my woman and the life she carried inside her. Nothing trumped that, not even the club.

  6 — Ryder

  Jade spent most of the day settling in and rearranging the small room so that she could get up in the middle of the night to pee without bumping into something. I indulged her every whim, even though I couldn’t really understand why everything had to be moved around. It was perfectly fine the way it had been for the last ten years, but I knew better than to a
rgue with a pregnant woman over something like that. At least if I let her have her way, she’d feel as if she’d won some small battle and really, I couldn’t give a fuck on which side of the damn bed I slept on as long as Jade was there beside me.

  I offered to fetch Jade a clean glass from the kitchen, but in reality I was on edge, and I needed to get information. Cobra had left earlier that morning to fetch Mia and his kids from an aunt of hers in San Diego, and I’d be restless until he returned. Jade was reading on her e-reader, so it was the perfect time for me to go and see what everyone else was up to.

  “Hey,” I greeted the boys as I entered the games room, where most of the guys were drinking beers and shooting some pool.

  “Wanna join us?” Ox said, his huge body huddled over the wooden table as he arranged the balls in a triangle. Sometimes I wished I could go back to the days when all I cared about was having a few beers, screwing some willing bitch, and playing pool or taking my bike for a long ride.

  I shook my head. “Not today.”

  Ox frowned, his mouth turned down. “I miss the good old days. You’re never around for fun anymore.”

  I shrugged. “Isn’t that what happens to every man once he has an old lady? Just the way life goes, I guess. But I’ll make time later for a game, I promise. Just to show you all that I haven’t lost my skills.”

  Ox laughed. “I’m holding you to that. And I bet you’re all rusty. I’m going to enjoy beating you.”

  “You can try, but you know what they say about riding a bike, and it’s the same for any other skill.”

  Razor piped up. “You also know what they say about practice.” His lips curled into the constant smirk he wore on his face these days and it really bothered me. He lifted his chin to challenge me. “You have no chance against us.”

  “Game on.” I chuckled, trying to keep it light. “You guys need putting in your place again. I’ll prove my favorite saying to you—once the champion, always the champion.”

  “Hmmm, I love your confidence,” Julianne said, the club whore getting up from the couch where she’d been flipping through some magazines, and coming toward us with a smile. “Such a turn-on, big boy.”

  I ignored her and turned my attention to Razor. “Will you let me know when Cobra gets back?”

  Razor took a good long swig from his bottle, wiped his mouth on his shirtsleeve, and smacked his lips together. “Sure.” A frown creased his brow. “What the fuck is going on anyway? Suddenly the place is swarming with old ladies and looks like a fucking crèche, and I have no idea why.”

  I shrugged. My lips were sealed. “Cobra will most likely fill us all in when he gets back. Till then, all we can do is follow orders.”

  Razor lifted an eyebrow as his mouth curled into the familiar smirk. “Don’t pretend you don’t know the deal. I know my brother had a long talk to you yesterday, and I know some shit is going down. Why all the fucking secrets?”

  I glared back at Razor. “Hey, bro, no point in getting pissed at me. You know Cobra. He’ll tell us when he’s ready.”

  Just then Lexi walked into the clubroom. “Hey, fellas,” she greeted with a wide smile, pulling a large purple piece of luggage on wheels behind her.

  Sweet Jesus, if Cobra felt the need to even bring her in, he was more worried than he’d even let on to me.

  Razor straightened up immediately, pulling his shoulders back and puffing his chest out ever-so-slightly. I couldn’t help smiling. Razor had it bad for the girl, and she was still giving him a hard time, which was rather surprising because I’d never taken Lexi for a girl who’d play hard to get. But some bitches were weird, and I’d never understand them in a thousand years.

  “Hey, Lexi, need help with your stuff?” Razor schmoozed.

  “Nah, I can manage.” She turned to me and gave me big doe-like eyes as she flashed me a smile. “Do I take the same guest room as before?”

  Razor stepped forward and grinned. “No, babe, you get to move into my room this time.”

  Lexi crossed her arms and sneered. “I’d rather sleep on the fucking couch.”

  Ouch. Razor’s face was like thunder, but that didn’t seem to concern Lexi. His jaw tightened, and a small vein ticked in his neck. Lexi could get to Razor like nobody else.

  I held up my right hand, showing my palm in an attempt to stop the bickering. “Um . . . I guess that’s okay. Anyway, take that room for now, and if there’s a problem you can always move later.”

  Razor planted his feet wide and crossed his arms over his bulky chest. “You can save yourself a lot of trouble by just moving into my room from the start. You know you’re my bitch, Lexi. Better start getting used to it.”

  Scorn flitted over Lexi’s features. “Over my dead fucking body. I’d rather fuck any other guy in the club than you. I’m sure Ryder’s got room for me in his bed. I don’t mind being in the middle of the sandwich with Jade.”

  I hated when Lexi flirted with me, but if she was trying to get a rise out of Razor, it was working. He gave me the stink-eye and moved around the pool table to stand between us as a barrier. Taking a step back to put some distance between Lexi and myself, I was anxious to get out of there. This conversation was not one I really wanted to be part of, so I mumbled something about going to the kitchen and got the fuck out of there as fast as I could.

  I took a glass from the top cabinet, rinsed it, and filled it with water. Even from the kitchen I could still hear Razor and Lexi having a go at one another. I seriously wasn’t in the mood for their shit. Those two were so hot for one another, yet Lexi wouldn’t give in to Razor, and it was driving him crazy. The poor fucker. Lexi was a hot piece of ass with a dirty mouth and double the amount of sass of either of her cousins, so I actually felt sorry for him.

  Still lost in my thoughts, I was brought abruptly into the present by Logan, Ratbag’s brother, who’d never quite made his way back home to Australia. He was calling my name—no, yelling my name, a note of sheer panic in his voice.

  “I’m here, in the kitchen,” I yelled back.

  He burst into the room, his eyes wide, and his face as pale as a ghost. “Fuck,” he screamed. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

  “Logan. Calm down, brother. What the fuck is going on?”

  “Fuck,” he said again, clearly unable to communicate.

  Razor ran into the kitchen, closely followed by Lexi. “What’s up? Why are you screaming?” Razor yelled out.

  Logan shook like a leaf. I stepped forward and gripped his shoulder, squeezing hard in an attempt to calm him down. “Tell me what happened?”

  “Co . . . Cobra,” he said pointing to the road.

  “Cobra? What about Cobra? Talk to me!”

  “He . . . he’s been shot.”

  “How the hell do you know? Where the fuck is he?” I roared.

  Logan pointed in the direction of the road. “At the gate. His car is smashed into the wall at the gate, and I think he’s been shot in the head. There’s fucking blood everywhere.”

  “What the fuck?” Razor boomed. “Who shot him?”

  Lexi shrieked. “Oh my God, oh my God.” Her whole body trembled. “We’re all going to get killed. Why did I even come here?”

  I looked to Razor and nodded toward Lexi so he could do something to calm her down. I didn’t want to be dealing with a hysterical female when my brother and his family could be bleeding to death.

  Seconds later, Hammer stormed into the room. “Fuck, I think Cobra’s dead. The car went out of control and smashed into the wall. I saw it all on the security camera. Mia . . . the kids—” Since Hammer was also pointing to the road, I worked out that this happened right outside our own gates. Logan and Hammer must’ve witnessed it on the security cameras.

  The glass dropped out of my hand and smashed into a thousand pieces on the tiles. Water splashed everywhere, but all I could see was red. Blood. Cobra’s blood. The fuckers had gotten him already.

  “No,” I screamed, my voice sounding like that of someone else. “No,
it can't be. Cobra can't be dead.”

  “What the fuck do we do? There are snipers out there. Snipers who will kill us all.” Logan was shaking from head to toe. Surfer boy’s tan had disappeared in an instant.

  Pandemonium broke loose, and everyone started yelling at the same time.

  “What the fuck, Ryder?” Razor looked to me for answers as if I’d just pulled the fucking trigger myself.

  I glanced around the room. It wasn’t just Razor—all eyes were on me. I stood frozen to the spot, my brain ready to combust. “We’ve got to get Cobra, Mia and the kids to safety.”

  Ox had appeared out of nowhere. He groaned. “How? How are we going to do that and not get us all shot?”

  There wasn’t time to fuck around. Every second counted. “You all stay here. I’ll go out. You cover me, Ox. Hammer, call Summers and tell him what happened. Logan, get the other boys. Lexi, stay calm and keep Jade in the bedroom. You all got that?” A thunderstorm brewed inside me, waiting to explode into action.

  Lexi grabbed my arm. “No, Ryder.” Tears streamed down her face, her mascara streaking her cheeks. “You can't go out there. Those fuckers will kill you too.”

  Razor stepped forward and pulled Lexi off me with a growl. “Let Ryder go. He knows what he’s doing.”

  I wasn’t as sure as Razor of that, but I’d take my chances. Somebody had to do something, and I guessed that someone was me. Fueled by adrenaline, I charged the door and ran to the gate as fast as my trembling legs could carry me.

  7 — Jade

  The second Lexi came into the room, her face a mess and sobs rattling her thin frame, my gut turned inside out. Whatever Ryder wasn’t telling me was playing havoc with my mind, and I feared for the worst.

  “What’s wrong, honey?” I shot off the bed, my head spinning from getting up too fast.

  She stood there with black panda bear blotches of ruined mascara, her lips quivering and raw fear in her eyes. I’d never seen her that distraught, and I’d seen my cousin in pretty bad shape before.

  “Ryder,” she croaked, her voice catching in her throat and her arms wrapped around her body as tears streamed down her cheeks.