A Family Man (18 page)

"I'm sorry. But I've waited so long. And now this asshole is keeping me from fucking you. Move your ass! Jesus!" She reached out and touched his thigh and he forced himself to relax. "You have no idea the things I have planned for you."

"Reckon I do." She grinned. The majority of their phone calls had started with 'what are you wearing?' And in the short time they had been together Joe had taught her so many things, not just about what he liked, but about her own body too. He was like an expert on erogenous zones and loved nothing more than turning her on. Briefly she wondered if it was his skills in inflicting pain that meant he also knew just how to give pleasure. She squirreled that question away till a later date. She knew what he did, but had no intention on dwelling on it.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they were home. Beth was barely over the threshold when he pounced. She gasped as he slammed her up against the wall, tearing at her clothes, his mouth on hers. Unceremoniously, he pulled down his jeans and thrust inside her. Later they would take their time to rediscover each other, but this was about months of pent-up frustration. It was fast and almost brutal. With her legs wrapped around his waist and his fingers bruising her ass cheeks, Beth felt her orgasm building. She dug her nails into the back of his neck as the heat coursed through her body and cried out as she climaxed. Joe following closely behind, unable to hold back any longer.

Shakily they pulled apart. Joe frowned; tears were streaming down Beth's cheeks. "Shit, baby, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?

"No, no. I'm fine." She smiled and rubbed at her cheeks. "Better than fine. I'm.... Wow. Shit, Joe." She reached up and kissed him.

"So why you crying? " Joe pulled away, terrified he'd done something wrong.

Beth laughed. "I'm not sure. Cuz I'm happy and that was the best fuck I've ever had."

"That's just weird." He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. "How 'bout we see if we can't top it in round two."

Joe reluctantly opened his eyes. The weak morning sun told him he couldn't stay in bed any longer. He had a day's ride ahead of him and he and Barney had decided to make an early start. Wincing, he slowly dragged himself out of bed and headed for the shower. Somewhere around round four he had pulled a muscle in his back, which was going to make the next twelve hours or so unpleasant, to say the least. He gave a rueful grin; somehow he couldn't bring himself to regret it. She was insatiable. As hungry for him as he was for her.

He glanced at the woman still sleeping deeply, a small smile playing on her lips. He had never regretted anything he had done for the club. As a soldier he had always gone where he was sent and done as he was asked without question, but right now he really wished he had said 'no.' He shook his head. Who was he kidding? The club would always come first with him.

When he returned from his shower, feeling marginally less beat up, the bed was empty, and a delicious smell of bacon was emanating from the kitchen. He followed the smell and found Beth dressed in nothing but his tee shirt, cooking bacon and eggs. He stalked over and kissed her neck. "Hey, baby. You didn't have to do this."

"I know." She turned and kissed him. "But I can't let you go out with an empty stomach." Joe deepened the kiss, causing her to moan. "Joe, you're going have to stop or the bacon will burn." She pushed him away, somewhat reluctantly, and turned back to his breakfast, giving him a view of her ass. He grinned. She was perfect from every angle.

Beth leaned on the door frame and watched as he pulled away. It wasn't quite the early start Joe had planned. Their goodbye fuck had turned into two and it was only the constant ringing of his cell that had prevented a third. Barney was clearly getting impatient. As soon as he disappeared she turned and walked back into the empty apartment.

~ oOo ~

Amy.

While I'm away, help Beth around the place. Do not skip school, do your homework and do not fuck your aunt around. If I get home and find out you have been giving her shit. I will ground your skinny ass till you are 18.

I'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Love Joe. XX

Rolling her eyes, Amy screwed up the note he'd left on the table and threw it in the general direction of the bin. Fucking Joe, even managed to give her a hard time when he wasn't there. Beth looked up from the pastry she was rolling. "You going to pick that up, sweetheart?”

With a huge sigh, Amy picked up the note and dropped it into the bin. Maybe Beth wasn't going to be the pushover she thought she would be. Gritting her teeth she smiled at her aunt. "Beth, can I go to Paulie's tonight?”

"Sorry, sweetheart. Joe was quite clear. You're not going out on a school night."

"But…”

"No buts. You know the rules, Amy. If you'd done your homework, you wouldn't be on report and you wouldn't be grounded."

"Yeah, yeah." How many times did she have to hear this shit? Amy stuck out her bottom lip. "So how long am I grounded this time?”

"Until I decide you're not."

"That is so unfair."

"No, Amy. Unfair would be grounding you on the weekends. Of course if you keep on giving me shit…..”

"Fine. Whatever." Amy flounced out of the kitchen and slammed the door.

Beth smiled and finished her pie. Joe had warned her that Amy would try to push her buttons, and to be honest she didn't expect anything less. She knew Joe was worried that she wouldn't cope. But after spending a lifetime dealing with first her mother, then her sister, Amy would be a walk in the park. As soon as the pie was in the oven, she knocked on Amy's door and walked into her room. Her niece was lying on her bed, texting her friend. "Amy, I know you're pissed. But you're really not helping your cause here."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to be okay with getting grounded yet again, am I?”

"No, sweetheart. But maybe you should ask yourself why it keeps happening. Are you struggling at school? Because if you are, I'm happy to talk to your teacher."

"No. I just forgot to do my homework and Miss Jones is a bitch."

"Because she put you on report?”

"Yeah, she's always bitching at me. 'Amy, stop talking. Amy why are you late. Amy this isn't good enough.' None of the other teachers have a problem with me, but she's on my case all the time."

"Can't imagine why." Beth chuckled. "How about you try turning up on time, not talking and actually doing some work."

"Oh sure, take her side. You're as bad as Joe."

"Oh, I think you'll find I'm much worse than he is. You'll never be able to wrap me round your little finger like you do with him."

"Ha! That's a joke! I never get my own way with him. It's like arguing with a rock."

Amy knew this wasn't entirely true, and although he would punish her when she overstepped the mark, she actually got away with a lot. Certainly not many kids got away with talking to their parents like she talked to him. She got the distinct impression, though, that if she disrespected Beth in any way, he'd come down on her like a ton of bricks.
 

TWENTY-EIGHT

From the moment he arrived, Joe made up his mind that he didn't like the Salt Lake chapter. It seemed to him that they'd had it too easy for too long and had grown lazy and complacent. Security within the clubhouse was lax and they were actually storing guns inside. At the junkyard too, little was being done to hide the illegal activities that were taking place there.

He and Barney were there under the premise that they were looking to patch into a new chapter. This way they could hang around for a few days and ask questions that would otherwise seem a little suspicious. Only King, the president, knew the real reason for their visit. Barney immediately threw himself into the role, bouncing around the clubhouse like a rubber ball, chatting to members and hangarounds alike. In a short time he was gaining everyone's trust, and it wouldn't be long before he'd know all about allegiances and rivalries within the clubhouse and beyond.

Joe's approach, however, was different. He was friendly enough when approached, but he remained aloof, and it soon became clear that he preferred to be left alone. From his place at the end of the bar he could see the entire room and, quietly and unobtrusively, he watched and he listened as the people around him gave up their secrets without even knowing it. His glass of JD had remained untouched all night; he wanted to keep his wits about him. He could feel in his gut there was an undercurrent about the place, something corrupt and rotten was permeating the very walls. He could smell it. And it was only a matter of time till he located its source.

There could be no doubt in Barney’s mind that the man standing next to him was a slimy piece of work. Samuel Dixon had been VP at Salt Lake for the past five years, and he was making no secret of his desire to take the gavel. In his mind having two new patches in his corner could bring him a step closer to achieving his ambition, and he was wasting no time in trying to get the Seattle patches on side.

Despite the fact that the asshole was making his skin crawl, Barney had spent the last hour listening to him pontificate about why the club should not be dealing with these two-bit street gangs or anyone of color, or brag about how he’d put any bitch who stepped out of line in her place. Barney gritted his teeth and kept his opinions to himself. Dixon wasn’t the first patch to be racist, nor was he the first to smack his woman around. He didn’t like it, though. Not one little bit. He was no angel, and certainly, when it came to women, he wasn’t always respectful. But he considered men who beat women to be cowards, and he’d never had an issue with race. It wasn’t a moral thing with him. As far as he was concerned assholes came in all colors.

He risked a glance to his left, to where Joe leaned on the bar, listening to everything Dixon said. They would discuss this later. Just because the guy was an asshole didn’t mean he was a rat, and Barney felt that the guy was a little too open in his wanting a change in regime. It may not be good for the chapter to have such dissent within its ranks, but it wasn’t unheard of.

Like his brother, he was getting a bad feeling about this place. He didn’t pretend to be as perceptive as Tiny, few people were, but there seemed to be a lack of trust amongst the patches, and if you couldn’t trust your brothers, you were lost.

~ oOo ~

“So what d’ya think, bro?” Barney passed his joint to Joe. They were leaning on the wall enjoying warm evening air. “There’s something not right here.”

Joe shrugged. “Don’t think the VP is the rat. Guy’s an asshole and he’s hungry for the gavel, but he’s got the SAA and the prez watching him like a hawk. Reckon he would have slipped up by now.”

“Gotta say I agree with you. As much as I’d like it to be that douche, I don’t think he’s our man.” He chewed on his thumbnail. “So if it’s not him. Who is it?”

Again, he shrugged. “Call Bay View, get Mac to run background checks on all the patches.”

“Mac?”

“
Kid’s a bit of an idiot, but what he don’t know ‘bout computers, ain’t worth knowing.”

“
What are we looking for?”

“
To tell the truth, I ain’t sure. Just keep getting the feeling that I'm missing something. I want to know about any allegiances outside the club. The last time any of the patches did a bid. Everything.” He took a huge drag on the joint and looked out across the lot. “This ain't about power. It’s about money. This is a rich chapter and someone wants a piece.” Pushing himself away from the wall, he stalked towards his bike. “Gonna take a ride. I’ll see you later.”

He only rode for a few minutes. It didn’t take long before his head started to clear. It appeared to him that this was a chapter with no future. It seemed that rather than doing what was best for the club as a whole and looking out for each other, his Salt Lake brothers were using the club for their own ends. Any one of them would be prepared to stab the other in the back to get what they wanted. Joe felt his jaw clench. This was not what the Freaks were about. He pulled out his cell and dialed.

“Tiny. What d’ya need?” Samson walked outside and closed the clubhouse door behind him.

“
What do you know about Salt Lake?”

“
It’s full of Mormons.”

“
Funny fucker.”

Samson chuckled. “That I am. What exactly do you need to know?”

“Not sure. Got a feeling. Tell me about King.”

Suddenly all was serious; the nomad president knew all about Tiny's ’feelings.’  “Clinging on to the gavel by his fingertips. There ain't no way that tenacious fucker will stand down without a fight.”

“You think he should?”

“
Rather him than that slimy fuck of a VP. King was a good man, back in the day, but he’s getting old and I ain't sure he’s got the eye on the ball anymore. He relying more and more on his SAA to keep order.” He frowned. “This feeling, Joe. You gonna explain?”

“
King thinks there’s a rat. Chapter’s took a couple of hits. Looks like the information came from inside.”

“
And what do you think?”

“
Oh, there’s a rat alright.”

“
Any ideas who?”

“
No. That’s the problem. King thinks it’s Dixon, but I’m not so sure. I don’t like the piece of shit, and I certainly don’t trust him. But he wants to lead a chapter that’s earning, it ain’t in his interests to jeopardize that.”

“
So if not him, who?”

“
Shit, man, it could be any of ’em. I guess I gotta keep on digging.”

“
You there on your own?”

“
Nah, Barney is with me.”

“
You okay with that?” Samson was the only one of his brothers who knew that Barney was Amy’s father.

“
Yeah. Got no beef with Barney.”

Samson grinned. Tiny never was one to hold a grudge, and Barney did have a knack of getting people to talk. “Tell him to talk to Boots.”

“The SAA?”

“
Yeah. If King goes, he goes too, and I don’t see a place at the table for him if Dixon takes the gavel.”

“
Okay, I’ll tell Barney. Thanks for your input, bro. appreciate it.”

“
Any time. Oh and give Spike a call. He knows King from way back. He probably won't have anything for you, but you never know.”

“
Yeah I will, thanks man. Later.”

He hung up and lit a cigarette, then pressed dial again. “Hey, darling.”

“
Hey. How’s it going?”

“
Like shit.”

“
Want to talk about it?”

“
Ain't much to say.” He sighed. “I could be here a while. Trying to find this rat is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I’m sorry, Beth. You deserve better.”

“
Joe, please. We’ve gone over this so many times. I don’t like you being away, but I accept it. All I ask is that you come back to me, whole.”

“
Shit, girl. Where you been all my life?”

“
Right under your nose.”

“
Oh yeah. I’m a dumb fucker, ain’t I?”

“
Yeah. But I love you anyway.”

“
So. What you wearing?”

~ oOo ~

The next morning found Barney and Joe sitting outside the office at the gates of the junkyard. Barney leaned across the handlebars. “So who’s this guy we’re supposed to meet?”

“
They call him Hook, for obvious reasons. According to Spike, he’s an old buddy of King’s. They both served together till he lost his arm in Cambodia. When King got out, he gave him a job managing this place and he’s been here ever since.”

“
Spike know him?”

“
Not well, but he reckons he’s loyal to King, and could be a good source of information.”

“
You want me to do the talking?”

“
Talking’s what you do best, bro. It’s getting you to shut the fuck up that’s difficult.”

Giving his brother the finger, Barney led the way towards the office.

Marcus ‘Hook’ Jenson leaned back behind his desk. “Something I can do for you fellas?”

Barney grinned and sat opposite him, running his hand through his short hair. “King tell you why we’re here?”

“Yeah. Said you were on a rat hunt.”

“
Something like that. I need you to tell me about these hijacks. You must have some theories.”

“
I got a few.”

Joe folded his arms and scrutinized the man behind the desk. Strangely, the most noticeable thing about him wasn’t that his left hand had been replaced with a hook. He was thin to the point of being emaciated and had iron gray hair that was slicked back away from his face. But it was his eyes that drew the attention. They were bright green, almost glowing in the dim light of the office, and were never still. This was a man who missed nothing. He stood up straighter. “You gonna share?”

Hook took a deep breath. “I ain’t keen on naming names. And you gotta understand I don’t actually know anything.”

“
But you got suspicions.” Barney butted in.

He nodded. “King thinks Dixon’s involved, but I ain't so sure. He don’t have much to do with the running of this place and, yeah, he probably knows the routes the trucks use, but he never takes part in the protection runs. I reckon you should be looking closer to King.”

“Boots?”

“
I didn’t say that.” He shrugged. “Just before the first hijack I took on a young kid to help out round the yard. I don’t like taking on new people, but Boots vouched for him and he seemed sharp enough.”

“
You think he was passing on information?”

“
I could be wrong, but when I said that I thought that whoever did this got inside information, he disappeared. Never saw him again.”

“
You got a name, address?”

Hook nodded and wrote it down on a scrap of paper. “Reckon he might not be living there now. But you might get lucky.”

“Thanks.” Barney took the note and passed it to Joe. “You said Boots vouched for him. Any idea how he knew him?”

“
He said he was the son of a buddy. I just took him at his word.”

“
You had no reason not to. How involved is Boots in this place?”

Hook looked up, surprised, when Joe spoke up. “Ain’t often you see a patch here. As far as the general population is concerned this place has no connection to the Freaks. They put up the cash, deal with the suppliers and escort the trucks but they don’t involve themselves with this place.”

Joe frowned. “These protection runs? They wear colors?”

“
No.”

“
So this isn’t about someone trying to hurt the club.”

“
No, this is about money. There’s thousands of dollars' worth of car parts on those trucks.”

Barney stood up. “Thanks. You’ve been a great help.”

“
You sure about this, Joe?” They were sitting on their bikes a short distance from the address they’d been given.

“
No. But it’s all we got. I was kinda hoping it was a rival club looking to muscle in on the action. But whoever’s behind this is looking to make money and nothing else.”

“
And the cops raiding the place?”

“
No cars were found, right?”

“
No. Where you going with this, Joe?”

“
Reckon someone wanted to make ’em nervous. King said they were expecting a delivery of cars the next day. Had to change their plans. Broke ‘em and shipped ‘em out in record time.”