Cocky Biker: A Stand Alone MC Romance Novel (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 2) (15 page)

O
h my God
, what is he going to say when he sees me? He asked me to go. Ordered me to leave, actually. He was so hurt and angry. Before then he’d been kind and as patient as possible, even under the crappy circumstances.

But I broke him down.

What’s he going to say?

“Well, well well!” Melodi calls down from the front porch of the Cipher’s plantation. “Never thought I’d see your stuck-up face again!”

Oh, fuck.

Taking off my helmet, I dismount the Triumph and eye her. “Jett home?”

Proud and protective, she shoots back, “What do you care?”

Hannah peeks out from the screen door. I see her whisper something, but it’s too far away to hear what. Melodi frowns and mutters something back.

I hate knowing people are talking about me like this. Not a great feeling.

“Melodi, I think you have the wrong idea.”

Snorting, she throws her hands on her hips. “I fuckin’ doubt it.”

“Luna?!!” I hear Carmen call from inside. She appears behind Hannah and pushes through. “LUNA!!!”

It didn’t even dawn on me that Carmen and Tonk would be back by now. So good to see a friendly face.

“Carmen!”

We meet each other on the steps, hugging under Melodi’s chafed glare.

“How was the train ride? How’s Celia? How are you? All healed?” God, I didn’t know how lonely I was until that tumbled out of me.

Nodding with a huge smile, she answers, “So fun! She’s beautiful, come and see her! Tonk is on the road with the Ciphers. I’m almost healed. Feels a little funny if I touch it. Want to?” She motions to her dress. “I have to wear these because pants are too tight around where they cut me. Gonna be a big scar, too.”

Even hyper-aware of our audience, I am still grinning at her. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Come and see Celia.” She waves at Melodi. “Don’t worry about her, she’s the mother of the house. Real protective of everyone. And they all say you broke Jett’s heart.”

It feels like someone just slammed a sword in my chest. I glance to Melodi and Hannah as I walk past, feeling like the biggest piece of shit in the world.

“I don’t like her being here,” Melodi calls after Carmen.

Carmen patiently tells her, “She’s my friend. She saved me, so I really don’t care what you think! Sorry!”

Hannah blinks way too much from the discomfort of standing up to the matriarch. “You heard the story, Mel.”

They both follow us inside to the old foyer. “Luna, you looked too surprised to see Carmen to be here for her.”

I want to yell,
Fucking bitch,
but bite my tongue.

How dare she call me on that!

Especially because it’s true!

“I already told you, Melodi, I’m here to see Jett.”

“So you can play him like a fiddle again?” She crosses her arms.

Carmen whispers, “Let’s just go.”

“No. I don’t run from fights. You want to do this, Melodi? You want a piece? Let’s do it.”

She glares at me through narrowing slits. “I would love to.”

Hannah jumps between us. “NO NO NO!!”

We both look over as four children disappear from where they were spying on us. “Shit,” Melodi mutters under her breath. She looks truly embarrassed, and human for once.

Hannah whispers hoarsely to her, “You promised them no more fighting.”

“I know! Shit!” Shaking her head, she disappears after them.

Carmen and I exchange a look. We can’t help but follow to find out what the hell that was all about.

In one of the downstairs bedrooms there are two beds. On one sits Melodi’s son Taylor with tears in his eyes. She is kneeling in front of him. “I’m sorry, baby. You know Momma has a temper but I’m workin’ on it. I’m not perfect, you know I’m not. But I’m tryin’ to get better.”

Sniffling, he whispers, “Uh huh!’

“I wasn’t really going to hit her.” She pauses. “Okay, maybe I was. But that wasn’t the right thing to do, Love Bug! I was just really angry because of your uncle Jett.”

“Okay,” he sniffles.

She pulls him into her arms and sits on the bed, glancing over to us. Whispering, she tells her only child, “Sometimes adults get angry just like you kids. Remember when you and Joanie were mad about the rabbit you found? When you both wanted it as a pet?” He nods a little as he rubs his eyes. “Remember how you pinched Joanie’s arm so hard it left a mark? Well, that happens to us, too, baby. It’s just a part of life. But I’m older than you so I should be able to control it better. I’m tryin’, okay?”

“Uh huh!” His squeaky voice is so cute. I am just melted by this whole scene, and the defensiveness I felt with that woman isn’t nearly as strong as it was.

I wish I could be a mother.

Melodi sets her son down and walks to me with a purpose. I step forward to meet her. She holds out her hand and says loud enough for him to hear. It’s stilted but sincere. “I’m sorry I almost punched you. I was angry.”

It’s really hard for me not to smile right now. But I don’t want her to think I’m laughing at her. I’m not at all doing that. This is taking some real guts – I can see it in her eyes how hard it is.

Carmen is standing in the doorway with Hannah and all three of hers and Scythe’s children peeking through her legs.

We are on stage.

“It’s okay, Melodi,” I say in a louder voice, too. “I’m sorry I broke Uncle Jett’s heart.” Her eyes sharpen until I say with real honesty, “I couldn’t admit I loved him. But I do. I love him very much.”

Carmen lets out a sweet, ecstatic sound behind me.

“
H
oly shit
!” I yell out as Jaxson and I stroll into the bar of Marcel, the dark, upscale, speak-easy-vibe restaurant in West Midtown, Atlanta. There’s a sight for sore eyes. My three brothers who I haven’t seen in way too fuckin’ long shout a welcome and we all take turns hugging and smacking each other’s backs.

“Jett, look at you!” Jason grins, “Man, it’s good to see you. Jake, should get married more often.”

Jake smirks, “Once is enough.” He calls to the white-shirted, bearded bartender with a beer belly, “Tom! Finest bourbon for my brothers!”

“You got it, Jake,” the guy nods, turning to the bottles.

“How was it staying at the ranch?” Justin asks me.

“Peaceful, man, peaceful.”

Justin says to Jaxson, “I really need to come out there for a night or two. Get some fucking rest.”

“Invite’s always open,” Jax smiles.

“Hey, Justin,” I say, “I’ve been meaning to tell you — you did good.”

“Yeah?”

“That’s a first,” his twin mutters. “What’d you do?”

“Nothing you wouldn’t, if you had the power I have,” Justin shoots back. To me, he asks, “All went well?”

“More than well,” I tell him, while the others listen. The five us together feels good. Only wish Jeremy was here to complete the circle. “The ring is done. Couldn’t have done it without you.” Keeping my voice low enough that we can’t be overheard — not that anyone here cares about anyone other than themselves — I fill them all in with basic details of what we did. I guess if I had to admit it, I want them to know I’m not a piece of shit. That they can still look up to me.

Family is a strange thing, man. Their opinions matters more than anyone wishes they did.

Calm and serious, Jaxson reminds me, “Tell them about the baby.”

“I was gettin’ to it,” I nod, leaning over to accept a couple short rocks glass from Tom. “Thanks man. Put it on Justin’s bill.”

“Asshole,” Justin laughs, as Tom nods with amusement in his eyes and walks to the register.

Handing Jaxson his glass, I say, “One of my buddies – name is Tonk – he took to one of the girls. He’s raising her baby as his own.”

Jason whistles long and low. “That’s fucking awesome.”

“Yeah. We were there when she had the baby. Went into Labor on the road.”

The three raise their eyebrows and I tell them what happened. There’s lots of laughing as I recount that it happened because Tonk and Carmen were going to have sex and things went in a whole different direction. Jake asks what they named her.

“Celia.” Lots of nods of approval. “Looked like an alien, but they made it back to home base before I rode out here, and she’s pretty cute now. You guys don’t know Tonk, but this is a big deal for him. He’s really steppin’ up. We’re all proud of him.”

“Looks like the poor girl found a savior,” Jake quietly says. “I didn’t know stuff like that happened here.”

“Happens everywhere,” I tell him with gravity.

Jaxson’s eyeing me. It didn’t slip by him I kept Sunshine out of the story.

When I relayed everything to him yesterday morning, I didn’t tell him the head of the trafficking ring was her father. I told him her mother was a victim, but not how far that went. And I told him Sunshine took him down, but that it was self-defense.

That’s why the cops let her go, I explained, keeping details secret that only the people who went through it, should know.

But the reason I’m not talking about Luna here is I don’t want to think about her. I don’t want them thinking about anything but a happy ending, since it’s Jake’s bachelor party and this is a celebration.

I ask, to lighten things up, “We going to a strip club?”

Justin rolls his eyes. “Maybe you can talk him into one, Jett. He’s fighting us.”

Jake brings up his chin with a cocky smile. “Don’t even try it. Won’t work.”

Jaxson chuckles under his breath. “I don’t see Jake as the strip club type.”

On a casual shrug, Jake says, “Why have hamburger when you’ve got steak?”

Mutual agreement all around.

“Speakin’ of Steak.” I motion to the dining room. “Let’s take this to a table. Starving.”

As Justin pays the tab, the groom-to-be tells us how Drew’s been the opposite of the crazy bride, how she turned down Mom’s wish for a big wedding, which is why we’re having it at the house. “Her dad is marrying us.”

“No shit?” I say with a smile. “Why?”

“He’s a Pastor. Guess I got his approval. Wasn’t easy. They’re old school so they weren’t stoked about my being eight years younger than her. But they came around.”

“Ready?” Justin throws his arm around me. “You had to wear the leather here, didn’t you?”

Reaching to smack Jason, I say, “If this Hip Hop motherfucker can wear a hat inside a place like this, then I can wear my fuckin’ patch.”

“At least it’s not my baseball hat,” Jason laughs, touching his saggy, grey beany.

“You look like a kid,” I mutter as we all walk to the host stand. The pretty hostess stands straighter at the sight of five Cocker Brothers coming at her.

“I’ll always be younger than you, Jett. Even when I’m seventy.”

“Just think how stupid you’ll look in that thing, then.”

From the look on the hostesses face as she eyeballs Jason, he doesn’t look stupid now. But I love to fuck with him. How he can listen to the crap he produces, I’ll never know. Mainstream has never been my thing. I hear he has a talent for it, but I wouldn’t be the best judge. I’ll just take Justin’s word for it, since he knows Jason’s work better.

A
dark-haired
, brown-eyed woman in her late fifties answers the door. Since Jett is blonde and grey-eyed, I’m not sure who this is.

“Mrs. Cocker?”

“Yes?” Her eyebrows are up as her gaze drops to take me in.

I’m wearing my usual jeans and t-shirt with my black jacket. Boots, of course. And a small suitcase Melodi loaned me for the plane ride has replaced my backpack. But I feel very out of place at a home like this.

The residential neighborhood of Buckhead in Atlanta is very upscale and lovely. Huge lawns and even bigger homes. Lots of columns and brick. Birds chirping everywhere and I swear I just saw a fucking chipmunk.

“I’m Luna.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh! I’m sorry! Is it two o’clock already? Come in!” She leads me into the large foyer and closes the door, glancing up to the sky first. “Still sunny. Let’s hope that sticks for tomorrow!” Turning around, she glances at my outfit again.

“I uh…I’m not one for shopping. Just a basic type of girl, I guess.”

She smiles, “Don’t be silly. I was just takin’ you in, honey, because between you and me, my Jett is a mystery to me lately. I’m just learning, is all.”

“Ah,” I whisper, glancing down to see what puzzle pieces she put together from me. “I guess we’re a lot alike then. Not really fluffy.”

She laughs and the sound is genuine. Ushering me further into the house, she leads the way. “When Melodi called me and told me about you, I have to admit, I jumped for joy. I hate to think of my son’s being lonely and Jett…” she pauses, thinking of the words.

We walk into a kitchen that is so pretty I can’t stop staring. A backyard the size of a small park is visible through the windows. Chairs are already set up for the ceremony. Tables, off to the side, wait to be dressed with cloth, flowers and food. It’s the bare bones foundation of a celebration, and I can’t believe I’m here, nervous as hell.

As she opens the refrigerator, I set my suitcase down by the wall so it’s out of the way. I feel very much like I’m not supposed to be here, even with her being as kind as she is. This is just not my type of place. Way too homey, something I’ve never known.

Taking down a couple of glasses and pouring lemonade for us, she continues, “Jett has a wild side. Always has. Heck, I guess all my boys do, in their own ways. Boys are different than girls.” She glances to me like I might be an exception. “Most of the time.”

“Mrs. Cocker, I think it’s very sweet of you to be helping me like this.”

“Well, I’m doing it for Jett, honey,” she smiles. “Ever since he went on the road with those men, I worry about him. I want him to be happy, and Melodi tells me that he loves you.”

Hearing it said out loud like that makes my chest hurt. “She told you he’s pretty mad at me.” I’d listened to Melodi talk to Jett’s mom for me, so I knew at least one side of the conversation.

Melodi and I discovered we’re alike in some ways, both stubborn and strong.

We came to a mutual respect. Might even become friends. But who knows?

I don’t mind a bitch as long as she’s on my side.

“She did tell me that, yes. What happened, if I might ask? She didn’t say.”

Taking the cold glass from Jett’s mother, I pause, staring at her. “Umm…I wasn’t ready when he was. Your son’s very…” I stop from saying, ‘
good,’
because then it sounds like I’m not good, and I don’t want his mom knowing that. “…different, from the men I’ve met. I guess I needed some time to believe it.”

And to think I might be worthy of being happy.

Another thing I’ll keep to myself.

“He is that,” she smiles with pride. “Let me show you your room.”

“It was so nice of you to let me stay here, Mrs. Cocker.” I had no idea why she offered that, until now. Manners are something she has in spades. She seems like the type of person who if she didn’t like you, you’d never know it. She’d treat you with respect just the same.

Waving my gratitude away with her hand, she motions for me to bring my suitcase and follow her. “To tell you the truth, I was hoping you’d tell me a little about him!” Walking upstairs, she explains, “The hardest part of being a mother is when they grow up and move away. My Jeremy is in the Marines, did Jett tell you?”

“He did.”

“I miss him like crazy. He had a ten-day leave after boot camp before he had to go to that School of Infantry, then he got deployed and has been bouncing around ever since. Been a little over a year now. I was hoping he could come home for the wedding but he’s needed there. It’s this way, Luna.” We pass photos of the brothers growing up – they line the long hallway’s walls and my eyes zip over them as we pass, longing to linger.

Family.

What was it like growing up in a place like this?

I can’t even wrap my head around it.

“We Skype all the time. I’m so happy for the Internet. How mothers of boys in the armed forces lived without it in days gone by, just makes me shudder to think of it. Must have been so lonely. It’s right here.” She opens a door to a good-sized room and surprises me by saying, “This was Jett’s room growing up. I thought maybe you’d like to stay here.”

Oh fuck. How my heart turned over when she said that.

Slowly walking in, I soak it all in.

There’s a Led Zeppelin poster over an oak bed, a navy blue comforter pulled tight across it with matching pillows. On the dresser rests drumsticks, a book by Kurt Vonnegut and Hemingway, and boxing gloves.

As she says, “I cleaned out the clutter when he moved out years ago, but kept what was most important. He’s staying with Jaxson now. Hoped he’d stay with us, but…” she trails off, and I know from what Jett’s told me that it’s because of her husband that Jett’s not here.

Picking up the dented drumsticks I turn them over in my hands. I wasn’t sure where he was staying, and thought it might be here.

When I heard the quiet in the house I thought maybe the men were out somewhere. I’ve been waiting for him to walk in at any moment and give me a heart attack.

“He played drums?”

“He was terrible at them!” she says with a pained look. “Just awful. Banging away in here so we made him put them in the garage after one night of that! I can’t even tell you how annoying it was. Don’t tell him I said that, but good lord, you can’t be good at everything!” She walks to the gloves. “This though, he was great at this. Hard for a mother to watch her son getting punched, but Jett gave more than he got. I only went to one match. Too much for me.”

Smiling, I can imagine how weird that must have been for her. “I’ve seen his skill. He’s very good.”

Her eyebrows rise up. “Oh?”

Shit.

“They deserved it,” I offer, knowing I just said something I shouldn’t.

Mrs. Cocker crosses her arms. “Please tell me more than that.” She’s not upset, just wants to be on the inside. But I can’t tell her what happened, because I don’t want this nice woman, the mom of the man I love, to know where I come from. She already looks at me like I’m a foreign object and not one of her tribe. What would she think if she knew just how dark my past is?

“Please,” she softly says.

Blinking to the carpet, I wring my hands. “Mrs. Cocker, umm, The Ciphers help people. That’s really all I can say. It’s their private business.”

“I’m his mother!”

“I know.” We stare at each other. “What do you want me to say, Mrs. Cocker?”

“The truth.”

Sighing, I finally concede. “They kick people’s ass and take bad people out of the picture.”

Her eyes register this and with a somber steadiness she asks me, “Do they kill people?”

“No, they’d never do that.”

Her shoulders slump with relief. “Oh, good. I was so worried.” She glances away and I stare at her, thinking,
sometimes being a good liar isn’t a bad thing.

“Are you tired, Luna?”

“More nervous than anything.”

“Anything I can do for you?”

There is one thing, but I don’t feel right asking. “You’ve got a lot going on.”

Her hands go up. “Are you kidding? Everything is ready! I can’t put the linens on the table until tomorrow or the birds will dirty them. The flowers don’t get here until the morning. The caterers are taking care of the food, also doesn’t come ’til morning. My husband and the boys are all at the shooting range, for Pete’s sake. Drew’s mother is in town and isn’t letting me help with her dress or anything. So infuriating. I’m just sitting here wishing I had something to do because I’m crawling out of my skin!”

Smiling at her exasperation, I offer, “Well, Melodi loaned me a dress, but now that I’m here, I realize it’s a little too skimpy.”

Mrs. Cocker blinks at me, then explodes…

“Oh THANK GOD! Let’s go shopping!!”