Prodigal Son (10 page)

“So I told Moses, ‘You tell those motherfuckers that if they want their bikes back, then they can leave their money and guns at the door.”

Joker dissolved into laughter, and I wasn’t sure what to think. If half of the stories he’d told in the short time we’d been in the car were true, then he belonged in prison or some kind of badass hall of fame. I was trying to piece everything together, and as far as I could tell, Moses, his nephew, had been the closest thing to a son that Joker had ever had.

He couldn’t explain what Moses had been doing in the same room with a DEA agent, much less what circumstances had caused both of them to end up dead. Moses had been shot by the DEA agent, and Moses’ old lady — some girl called Max — had shot the agent to save her own life. Joker didn’t even seem to think twice about telling me about the illegal activities the Savage Sons had been involved in, chief among them a meth operation that apparently spanned all of northern Colorado and stretched into Wyoming as well. The prostitution had gone hand in hand with the drugs.

I felt like I’d stepped into a movie. I knew shit like this went on, but outside of having grown some amazing hydroponic weed in college, I had little experience with harder drugs. I loved booze, and I loved weed, but while I’d never admit it to Joker, anything else scared me a little. The thought of a bunch of cranked up bikers cooking meth didn’t exactly inspire my confidence that their wares wouldn’t kill me. Clearly not everyone was so discriminating.

“So, the short version of the story is that we’re all kinda fucked, to be honest,” Joker had said as we pulled into the lot. “Your mother is right that we’re gonna have to do something soon, or we’re gonna lose the house. It’s paid off, but the taxes are fuckin’ ridiculous and we need a new roof.” Joker looked at me. “I’m sorry to throw this shit on you. I’m just overwhelmed. I thought of Moses like my son, and when he died, it nearly killed me. To have you show up is the answer to my prayers … or it would be if I prayed.” Joker laughed as he got out of the Jeep. “Come in and meet my brothers,” he hollered after he’d shut the door.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I was sure it wouldn’t be boring.

The whole entrance thing was odd — like the entrances had been designed by a paranoid drug dealer, which I guess made sense. Once we got inside, I felt like I spent more time under bikers’ armpits than I’d ever thought I’d care to. I had to have endured hugs from every man in the room at least once, and Joker spent most of the evening with his arm thrown over my shoulders. Since I was a couple of inches taller than he was, it made for some uncomfortable moments.

I’ll say one thing for the Savage Sons: they were generous hosts. I never lacked for a beer, and Joker made it perfectly clear that any woman in the room was mine for the taking — with just a few exceptions. I couldn’t see around the huge group of people around us to see exactly who he’d gestured toward over by the bar, but I expected that I wasn’t interested in an “old lady” anyway.

Jimmy, a Son from someplace up north, was telling me a story about Joker and my uncle having outrun the police back when they first started the MC, and I had to admit that once the shock of the scene had worn off, I was enjoying the company. I marveled at the men — committed to backing one another up — and absolutely not giving a fuck what anyone thought about them. It felt a little dangerous and a little exciting.

“Joker, I gotta take a leak,” I said after I’d finished laughing at Jimmy’s story. “Can I get you a beer?”

“Nah, son, I’m good,” he said as he continued to laugh and light another cigarette.

So he was weirding me out a little, jumping right into the “son” thing, but he seemed like a good enough guy, and he was just so freaking happy to have me there that I couldn’t get too terribly upset. I figured I’d get through the evening and sort out my feelings and how I’d handle the Halls later. I took a couple of steps toward the hallway that Joker had directed me toward, and ran straight into Krystal.

“Krystal?” I said, stunned. “What are you doing here?”

She shook her head, as if she didn’t quite believe her eyes. “What am
I
doing here? Are you kidding? What are
you
doing here?”

I just stared at her, and I realized that she looked a lot different than she had at the bar. “Wow,” I said. “I thought you were hot before…” my voice trailed off.

“Oh, my God,” she said. “You’re Joker’s son?” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth.

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“Zeno at the door told me that Joker was here introducing his son — a tall blond guy. It never occurred to me that it could be you.”

“Why would it? Denver isn’t a small town. But seriously, what are you doing here?”

Before Krystal could answer, a man with massive shoulders pushed my shoulder, forcing me to take a step back from her.

“She’s with me.”

The man just stared at me, having to look up a bit since I was a good six inches taller than he was. He stuck his chin out, as if he was trying to intimidate m, and I nearly laughed in his face, but I realized instantly that the guy gave off a seriously unbalanced vibe — like the kind of guy who could go batshit crazy with no warning at all.

I held up my hands and took another step back. “Hey, nothing going on here, man. I was just talking to the lady.”

“What the fuck right do you think you have to come in here and start talking to another man’s old lady?”

I couldn’t help it, but something about his having referred to Krystal like she was his property just rubbed me the wrong way.

“She doesn’t look like an old lady to me, man, but no offense intended. Good to see you again, Krystal.”

I started to walk toward the hallway when I heard the man speak to Krystal and I stopped, just in case the situation was about to get out of control.

“How the fuck does he know your name, you fuckin’ slut?”

I turned around to see Krystal put her hand on the man’s arm.

“Sugar, there’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m here with you tonight.”

Her voice sounded terrified, and she caught my gaze for the briefest of moments, and she shook her head slightly. I assumed that she was warning me off to avoid a confrontation, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the man she’d called Bug was the boyfriend — or whatever — whose phone call she’d avoided the night before.

I turned away but didn’t walk any further. I didn’t want my presence to inflame the situation, but I wasn’t about to walk away from a woman who was obviously scared of a man. When Bug just turned and walked over to a pool table, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and headed for the bathroom.

When I was finished, I looked at myself in the cracked mirror over the sink while I washed my hands.

“What did you walk into?” I asked my reflection.

Clearly the dynamic between Krystal and Bug was complicated, and I didn’t want a fight on my hands, but I also wasn’t going to walk away and let him be abusive. Whether she knew it or not, she didn’t have to put up with his bullshit.

And Jesus, what had she been thinking when she walked out of the house dressed the way she was. She was an absolute fantasy — all sexy hair, bedroom eyes, and that sexy dress that didn’t hide anything. She looked even more amazing than I’d imagined. I felt an instant surge of jealousy at the thought of her in bed with that piece of shit who’d pushed me out of the way, but I’d seen his cut. I was on his turf, and I had no option but to walk away — as long as he didn’t push things too far.

As I left the men’s room, I realized that I couldn’t drink much more and still get back to the hotel safely, and I resolved to try to make an exit sooner rather than later. I didn’t want Krystal to get into trouble, but I couldn’t solve all the world’s problems.

“Hey, Joker,” I said, leaning in so that he could hear me over the jukebox blaring ZZ Top. “I’m gonna take off after this beer.”

“All right. If you’re too big a pussy to hang with your old man, I get it.” Joker’s voice was loud enough for all of his brothers to hear his good-natured teasing. “”I’m just fuckin’ with you,” he said, throwing his arm around me once again. “Hey, you busy tomorrow?”

I looked over at Krystal sitting at the bar, by herself in the corner, watching the room and trying not to let her eyes rest too long on my face in case Bug was watching her. I wished like hell that I had plans with her tomorrow.

“Nah, man. I’m free.”

“Perfect. Jimmy and I are gonna take you on your first ride. You’re gonna love it.”

“That sounds awesome. Should be a great day for a ride. Should be sunny and warm.”

“Only pussies wait for a nice day to ride,” Jimmy said with a straight face.

I wasn’t sure if he was serious or not. “Well, I guess I’m just lucky then. What time do you want to head out?”

“‘Bout ten? That work for you both?”

Jimmy and I nodded in answer to Joker’s question, and Jimmy finished the last of his beer and waved to the bartender for another.

“I was thinking we could ride up to Cripple Creek. I know a couple of girls up there, and we can have a little fun and be back before dinner.” Joker looked at me. “What do you say?”

I wasn’t sure exactly what Joker meant about having fun with the girls he knew up there, but I’d never been to Cripple Creek, and I’d heard the drive was nice. “I’m in,” I said, before I finished my beer.

I hugged Joker, waved to Jimmy and the other guys and headed to the bar — ostensibly to set down my beer bottle, but really to talk to Krystal. I made sure Bug was occupied with his pool game, though I was certain he’d be watching. It wasn’t like I was planning on doing anything but talking. There was plenty of room around Krystal, as if everyone in the room was afraid to get too close to her.

“You okay?” I asked as I set the bottle down.

“I guess so,” she answered. “It’s the usual. I might as well have brought my homework to do. Bug’s pissed, so he’s just gonna shoot pool and glare at me all night. Heaven forbid I actually talk to anyone or have some fun.”

“I just want to make sure he’s not going to hurt you.”

“He won’t do anything too awful while we’re here, and I’m gonna try to get out of going to his place.”

“I know this is none of my business, Krystal, but has he hit you before?”

Krystal waved to the bartender for another drink. “You know that’s a stupid question, Luke.”

I checked again to make sure Bug hadn’t made a move toward us. “Why do you stay with him?”

“I told you, it’s complicated. I can’t explain it to you here.” Krystal shook her head and laughed. “Who the hell am I kidding? I can’t explain it to myself, no matter how hard I try.”

“I don’t want to stay here too long and cause problems for you, but I just want you to know that if you need help, you can call me. Any time, day or night.”

“Thanks. I can take care of myself. I’m tougher than I look.”

“It’s dangerous for you to bring up how you look, Krystal. I would give anything to take you out of here with me and take you back to my suite.”

I could see the desire in Krystal’s eyes. She wanted me, but she had her hands full with the mess she’d created with Bug.

“Will you do me a favor?” I asked.

“Depends on what it is,” she said.

“Will you send me a text when you get home safe? I’m gonna worry about you until I get it.”

“I will.”

I wanted to reach for her hand or lean over and kiss her, but I knew that I couldn’t. “I have to go,” I told her. “See you soon?” I asked quietly enough that no one could overhear us.

“Absolutely,” she whispered.

I turned away from the bar because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to leave her if I didn’t go right that minute. I waved to Joker and the guys again, ignored the glare Bug sent me, and headed for the door.

The cool air was a refreshing change from the smoky bar, and I immediately felt clear-headed and wide awake. As I drove home, I thought about the mess that Krystal was in, and I wondered why on earth a young woman who was clearly smart and capable would spend even a minute in the company of a man like Bug. It occurred to me that I’d seen Joker treat Sable in a way that I would certainly consider sexist, and I shook my head as I realized how pervasive the MC mentality was for all of its members and hangers-on. It made me reconsider taking a ride with Joker and Jimmy tomorrow, but I decided that a few hours on a bike wouldn’t change my life, and if I canceled, it would certainly disappoint Joker.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I
knew I should have asked Luke to walk away right after he’d put the bottle on the bar, but I just couldn’t. He was so sincere in his desire to make sure that I was okay, and I knew there was no way he could possibly understand the depth of Bug’s insane jealousy. The fact that I was attracted to him made it even harder to ask him to leave. I knew that chances were good that Bug would make me pay for the conversation, but just the few moments of looking into his blue eyes would be worth it.

Sitting in Bug’s usual corner of the bar, I watched J.C. finish a conversation with Bug, nod his head, and walk toward me.

“Bug wants to talk to you,” he said, gesturing to the hallway.

“If he wants to talk to me, he can walk his ass over here and talk to me,” I replied. “He ain’t the King of England.”

J.C. leaned closer. “Look, Krystal, I don’t exactly know what game you’re playing with that blond guy showing up here, but Bug’s pissed, and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t make him any madder than he is.”

It sounded like he was actually concerned about me, so I sighed and stood up from the bar stool, pulled my dress down to a slightly more modest length, and followed him down the hallway to one of the bedrooms. I didn’t have more than a few seconds to wait before Bug came inside. I expected J. C. to leave as soon as Bug walked in, but he shut the door and watched silently as Bug approached me.

“You’re the hottest fuckin’ girl in the room. Too bad you’re a fuckin’ slut.”

I stood, silent, unsure what he wanted from me.