Fight (6 page)

I didn
’
t give a shit.

Then I remembered the gun I had
brought.

Maybe I could just finish the
job myself
…

8.

(Winter)

I opened the bedroom door slowly. I
saw a hole in the wall and saw blood on the table. I walked to the table and
saw Tripp
’
s gun sitting
there. When I turned, I saw him on the couch. His hands behind his head, his
right foot on the floor, his left leg stretched out. The couch was too small
for his muscular body, but there was only one bed in the place.

And like hell I was going to share
my bed with Tripp. He was here to protect me and nothing more.

Even though I tried to throw
myself at him last night.

Could anyone honestly blame me
though? I
’
d been trapped in
a world of darkness and mental torture for almost my entire life. The day I
found out Rocky had been killed, I thought for a second I had a sliver of hope
at surviving. But then the MC was right there. They all claimed they were going
to take care of me, but I knew eventually one of them would choose me as their
own.

I thought about waking up Tripp and
apologizing for last night, but I decided against it. The front door was
locked, the windows all shut. I was as good as protected for the moment.

After making coffee, I tossed up
some scrambled eggs. I had exactly five eggs left to eat. I guess if Sarah wasn
’
t going to show up with a bag of
groceries again, I
’
d have
to take care of myself. I doubted that Sarah would be in a good mood with me
after Tripp jacked up Harlan. But Harlan had that coming though. He shouldn
’
t have snuck into my place.

It really bothered me more I
thought about it.

Him sitting there in the dark with
a gun.

What if I was alone?

What was his real intention of
being in my place?

I glanced back at the couch and
smirked. Tripp might have saved me big time last night. Off to a good start, I
guess.

I cleaned up the dining room table
and put the eggs and coffee on it. In the back of my mind, I wondered what the
hell was really going on. The MC had power and strength. Yet Stoney called in a
favor to have me protected? The pieces to the puzzle were not adding up.

Tripp sat up and looked right at
me. His eyes were a little weary but still so damn sexy. He looked around my
place and then stood up. He grabbed his gun and tucked it away.

Then he stretched.

His shirt pulled up a little,
revealing enough stomach muscle to make any decent woman
’
s panties writhe with moisture. That included my
own. I looked down at the coffee and eggs on the table.

“
Breakfast,
”
I said.

“
I
smell it,
”
Tripp said.
“
Thank you.
”

“
Yeah.
Sure.
”

He walked to the table and sat
down.

The silence was very weird. We
exchanged a few glances and the soundtrack to our breakfast was a fork hitting
the plate, a fork scraping off teeth, and the slurp of hot coffee.

Finally, I put everything down.
“
I
’
m
sorry about last night.
”

“
What
about?
”

“
Tripp,
we were drunk but not that drunk. I shouldn
’
t
have pushed at you like I did, okay? I
’
m
sorry. I
’
m scared. I don
’
t understand what
’
s happening or why.
”

“
I
call bullshit on that, darling.
”

“
Oh?
”

“
Yeah,
you heard me. You
’
re tangled
up with a MC and you have the guts to tell me you don
’
t understand what
’
s
happening? I
’
m sure if you
thought about it real hard, you could find some skeletons hanging around your
closet. If you want me to protect you the right way, then start talking. If
not, then I
’
ll just be here
until I
’
m not.
”

“
And
what does that mean?
”

Tripp finished his coffee. He stood
from the table.
“
It
’
s simple. You have to have some
idea why Rocky was killed. And if the MC thinks you
’
re next, there
’
s
a connection. You
’
re important
enough to protect but not important enough to save. That means you have
something they want.
”

“
Who
is
they
?
”

“
I
don
’
t know yet.
”

“
Isn
’
t that a great feeling,
”
I muttered.

Tripp walked his plate and mug to
the counter. He then turned and looked at me.
“
For
the record, I
’
d like to
believe you
’
re important
enough to protect and save. So prove it to me.
”

Tripp then went into the bathroom
and shut the door.

He didn
’
t lock it.

I heard the water turn on.

I frowned and thought about
everything that could have been coming back to bite me in the ass. There was a
lot. My life didn
’
t have a
skeleton or two in a closet. It had a house.

I waited at the bathroom door.

Tripp opened it and jumped back a
step.

“
Start
at the beginning,
”
I
whispered.
“
Let
’
s go visit the MC.
”

~ ~ ~

I waved and the gates to the
compound were opened. I glanced casually at Tripp, wondering if he
’
d be intimidated by the sight of
all the motorcycles and the rough and tough bikers as they wandered around.

His face was like stone.

His eyes the same.

It was like nothing bothered the
guy.

Well, except whatever made him
punch the wall last night.

Did I cause that?

Heat rushed to my face as he
stopped the car and climbed out.

I got out of my side and rushed
around, but not before a group of the guys were already on their way to greet
the stranger.

“
This
is Tripp,
”
I called out.
“
He
’
s
protecting me.
”

“
Protecting,
”
one of the guys -
Crusher
- said.
“
Like nothing we
can
’
t fucking do ourselves.
”

“
Ease
up,
”
a voice growled.

It was Stoney working through the
crowd.

He stopped and stared at Tripp. He
eyed him up and down.
“
You
carrying?
”

“
Of
course I am,
”
Tripp said.

“
Give
me your weapon.
”

“
Fuck
yourself.
”

I gasped. I grabbed for Tripp
’
s hand.

Nobody could talk to Stoney like
that without getting a beating.

It was a little weird to see Stoney
standing alone without Rocky next to him. The empty space actually bothered me
a little. And it seemed to bother Stoney since he didn
’
t make a move at Tripp.

“
Tough
guy,
”
Stoney said.
“
I can respect that.
”
He stepped forward and grabbed
for Tripp
’
s right hand. He
lifted it.
“
Looks like your
hand took a beating.
”

“
Yeah.
You should have seen the other guy.
”

That must have been Tripp
’
s standard  line to tell
everyone who asked about him fighting.

“
Actually,
I did,
”
Stoney said.
“
You took care of Harlan pretty
good, didn
’
t you?
”

Tripp looked right to left, taking
note of the guys surrounding him. He took his hand away from Stoney and made
fists.

“
When
you
’
re sitting on someone
’
s couch with a gun on your lap,
what do you think is going to happen?
”
Tripp asked.

“
You
like to fight, huh?
”
Stoney
asked.

“
I
’
m good at it. It
’
s how I survive.
”

“
And
now you
’
re protecting sweet
innocent Winter here.
”

“
Just
doing my job.
”

Stoney inched forward.
“
Under other circumstances you
’
d be beaten to a pulp right now.
I want to make that clear. But since my club is mourning and out for blood, I
’
m going to play a different card
with you,Tripp. Why don
’
t
we go sit at the table and have a talk about some things.
”

“
Was
that an actual question or an order?
”
Tripp asked.

Stoney grinned.
“
You don
’
t give a fuck about anything, do you?
”

“
I
’
ve got nothing to lose,
”
Tripp said.
“
So what do I have to care about?
I
’
m on borrowed time
already, so, no, I don
’
t
give a fuck about anything.
”

There were a few tense seconds while
both men remained quiet.

Stoney then turned and let Tripp
walk alongside him. Nobody dared to move without orders from their President.

I watched as Tripp walked away from
me.

In that moment, I felt completely
alone, cold, and completely terrified.

Not for Tripp.

But for me.

I didn
’
t like it when he wasn
’
t around me.

9.

(Tripp)

I hated the idea of leaving Winter
behind. It was my job to protect her, but I wanted more than that for her.
Something inside me clicked and I wanted to find out who would be after her and
to see if I could get her to safety. If I could find out who was after her, I
could point the MC in that direction. Then I could call Aldo and see what he
wanted me to do next.

Probably eat a bullet.

Inside the clubhouse, it was like a
movie when someone enters and everything stops. When you hear the scratch of a
record needle, a stray cough, and a thousand eyes beating upon you.

They were all alike. Wide
shoulders, messy hair, drunk faces, anger in their eyes. Jeans with black
leather cuts donning the Red Aces MC logo on their breasts and backs. They all
stared at me like I didn
’
t
belong, which I damn well didn
’
t.
I wasn
’
t a biker. I wasn
’
t a mobster or gangster or
anything. I lived on my own. I functioned with the notion that it was my heart
on the line everyday and nothing else mattered.

“
Want
a beer?
”
the President of
Red Aces asked me.

“
I
’
m good,
”
I said.

“
Fucking
pussy,
”
someone muttered.

I turned, left hand balled up. I
tried throwing the fist and the President was there to hook his arm into mine.
He spun me around so we were facing each other.

“
I
’
ll let it slide what happened
with Harlan,
”
the President
said, showing his teeth like a rabid dog.
“
But
you
’
re not coming into my
fucking clubhouse and throwing punches at my fucking guys. Understood?
”

“
Yeah,
”
I said.

“
Good.
”

He broke away and walked me to a
door. He opened and I stepped inside. It was a long and narrow room. There was
a large, dark wood table in the center with ten chairs, four on each side and one
at the ends of the table. In the center was a carved skull and the Red Aces
name on it. There was a desk in a corner with filing cabinets. No windows in
the room. It had the lingering smell of body odor, leather, booze, and smoke.

“
This
is where we come to pray.
”

“
Good
to know.
”

“
Tripp,
right?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
I
’
m Stoney.
”

He offered his hand. I shook it.

“
I
’
m the President of the Red Aces
MC,
”
he said.
“
And you
’
re walking a fine line right now.
”

“
Is
that so?
”

“
You
don
’
t understand what you
’
re involved with.
”

“
I
’
m just doing my job.
”

“
Sit
down.
”

Stoney took a seat at the head of
the table and kicked out a chair. I sat down, feeling real damn uncomfortable
in the room.

“
Know
who used to sit there?
”
Stoney asked me.

“
No
clue.
”

“
Rocky.
My VP. Winter was his old lady.
”

“
The
guy who was shot and killed,
”
I said.

“
Exactly.
”
Stoney folded his hands and
leaned forward.
“
He was
taken out in a real shit way, Tripp. I fear for Winter
’
s life.
”

“
That
’
s why I
’
m here.
”

“
You
’
re going to do battle with MCs
at war?
”

“
It
was another club that killed Rocky?
”

“
He
always stuck his nose where it didn
’
t
belong,
”
Stoney said.
“
I always knew it would catch him
in the ass. I loved him like a brother though. It doesn
’
t make sense though. I mean, it does, because of
Rocky
’
s personality, but
the timing. None of it makes sense.
”

“
Why
are you telling me this?
”

“
I
was curious to meet you, Tripp. That
’
s
why. I heard you
’
re a
prized fighter fallen from grace.
”

“
Not
sure I
’
d value myself all
that much.
”

“
You
’
re serving a punishment by doing
this,
”
Stoney said with a
sly grin.
“
So your death,
if it should happen, wouldn
’
t
be a great loss.
”

“
Agreed.
But I
’
m wondering why your
MC can
’
t protect Winter.
And better yet, what is she being protected for?
”

“
How
about common courtesy?
”
Stoney asked.

“
You
don
’
t look the part for
courtesy.
”

“
And
you don
’
t look the part of
a fighter.
”

“
Want
to try me?
”
I offered.

Stoney laughed.
“
Offering to take on the
President of a MC is a dangerous proclamation. I
’
ll
pretend I didn
’
t hear that.
”

“
Then
I
’
ll say it louder.
”

Stoney gritted his teeth.
“
Let me put it this way, Tripp.
If my guys are poking around Winter, you stay the fuck back. There should have
been better communication with Harlan, I
’
ll
give you that. But that cannot and will not ever happen again.
”

“
I
can
’
t promise anything.
”

“
So
you like to fight that much?
”

“
Never
said that. But if I need to fight to survive
…”

Stoney slapped his hand to the
table.
“
Tell you what. Why
not join the MC in a little entertainment? Maybe you and Harlan can square
things up the right way. You know?
”

“
You
want me to fight Harlan?
”

“
I
’
m offering you a chance to get a
little closer to the MC,
”
Stoney said.
“
After all, we
’
re all in this together, right?
Someone is going to have to take care of Winter short term and long term. It
’
s only a matter of time before
you
’
re gone, right Tripp?
”

His words were cool but intensely
threatening. I knew how to play cool though. I once had my best friend die in
my fucking hands. Trust me, I knew how to play cool.

“
That
’
s fine by me,
”
I said.
“
I
’
d
like to know everything you know so far. And what I can do to help. If someone
is coming for Winter, I want to be ready.
”

Stoney waved a hand.
“
Nothing to worry about. Anyone
steps foot in this town, we
’
ll
have them. My guys are everywhere.
”

“
Drunk
at the bar?
”

“
That
’
s only some. We work in shifts.
”
Stoney stood up.
“
I
’
ll
organize a little gathering. The MC could use some cash. Now, can I trust you
to knock Harlan out again?
”

Stoney smiled and winked.

“
You
’
re going to bet against your own
member to win cash?
”
I asked.

“
Hey,
”
Stoney said.
“
I go where the business is.
”
He then grabbed my wrist and
lifted my right hand.
“
Then
again, this is too fresh on your knuckles. This isn
’
t from skin and bones, Tripp.
”
Stoney
’
s eyes locked with mine.
“
This is from punching a wall. Stone wall, right?
What happened? Winter shake that little ass of hers too close? You fucking see
those tits yet, Tripp? My fucking God
…
they could make a blind man hard
…”

I felt my left hand tightening up
into a ball. I wanted to attack. I wanted to rip this guy
’
s throat out.

But I held off. Showing restraint
was definitely not my strong suit, but I managed.

“
I
’
m here to protect her,
”
I said.
“
Nothing else.
”

I walked to the door and Stoney
whistled for me.

I paused, looking back at him.

“
Watch
yourself, Tripp. Aldo and I go back a long time. The Red Aces have ties you can
’
t imagine. I know why you
’
re here. I know what happened. I
know how fragile your life actually is. You get too close. You poke around.
”
Stoney nodded to Rocky
’
s empty chair.

A silent warning.

I left the room and felt a chill
run through my body.

If I was a detective or a betting
man, my suspicion was really fucked.

I started to believe the MC took
out their own guy.

~ ~ ~

I thought about holding Winter
’
s hand. Then I thought about driving
the car off the road. There was no way in hell I could hold her damn hand. Even
if she was shaking. Even if she kept turning her head to hide the fact that
there were tears in her eyes.

It didn
’
t matter.

The lines were pretty clear now.

Something about the Red Aces MC
stuck with me. Maybe not the entire club, but the President was a piece of
shit.

Then again, I knew nothing of
Winter and what she was hiding. For all I knew, she and Rocky were involved
with something or someone and it came back to bite them in the ass.

“
I
’
m going to ask something,
”
I finally said.
“
I
’
m
the one protecting you and you cannot fuck with me.
”

“
Okay,
”
Winter said weakly.

“
Did
you have anything to do with Rocky
’
s
death?
”

There was silence.

Winter looked at me.
“
Directly or indirectly?
”

“
You
know what I mean.
”

“
You
think I killed him?
”

“
Answer
my question.
”

“
What
did Stoney say to you?
”

“
He
made it pretty clear about something,
”
I said.
“
He seemed to
describe you perfectly.
”

Yeah, maybe I was testing Winter a
little. Pushing her away from me, pushing her out of her comfort zone. She
moved away from me, pushing against the car door. I thought she was going to
try and bolt.

“
He
described me,
”
she said.
“
They all could. They all looked
at me. Because of who I was.
”

“
Was?
”

Winter stared forward. Her cheeks
flushed.
“
Fine. I was a
stripper, Tripp, okay? That
’
s
how I met Rocky. That
’
s how
I met the MC. I was a stripper.
”

Now I was the one in shock.

Winter seemed too taken back and
shy to take off her clothes. My eyes instantly moved up and down her body. My
hands gripped tighter on the wheel. Thankfully we were on a straight road with
no traffic, but I was playing a dangerous game by not paying attention to the
road.

But
…
fuck the road.

I couldn
’
t stop picturing it now.

I had seen Winter in a towel
already. The way her cleavage poured from the towel. Her hips pressing to the
sides. The curve of her ass. Fuck, the way her hair was curly when wet.

And the whole MC was able to see
that? They all paid for that?

Fuck me, I was completely jealous
of everyone who ever saw Winter.

“
I
see you looking at me now,
”
she whispered.
“
Just like
they all do. Is that what you want then? You think it
’
s unfair? You want to see me naked, Tripp?
”