Lay It Down: Bastards MC Series Boxed Set (38 page)

His eyes narrowed. “What about your kids? You’re just gonna leave ‘em?”

I frowned at him for a minute before I realized he didn’t know. “Oh! I assumed Matty would have told you… sorry!” I offered him a small smile before explaining. “Will, my ex, and I have joint custody, and we agreed that it was unfair to have the kids get uprooted. So the kids live at the house all the time, and Will and I alternate. We tried doing the every other week thing, but it was just too much for everyone. Now the first two weeks of every month belong to him, and the last two weeks belong to me. If there’s a five-week month, I keep the kids an extra few days and he moves in a couple days early. Divorce sucks, but we want the kids to have as much stability as they can. They shouldn’t be punished because Mommy and Daddy can’t live together anymore.”

“That’s…” He glanced back at the bar before meeting my gaze. “That’s a really great thing to do for your kids. Most parents only worry about themselves aftah a divorce.”

I nodded, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “The only thing Will and I ever did right was those kids, and we’re both pretty determined to make sure they don’t get hurt. I’ve seen how hard it is for Sammy when he has to go home after spending the weekend with Matty. I couldn’t imagine doing that to my babies. It’ll be a struggle once I’m settled in Boston, but we’ll make it work.”

Silence filled the cabin again as Rocker seemed to lose himself in deep thought but never took his eyes off me. The steady stare made me nervous, and I turned to look out my window, watching people leave the building. Last call was getting close. I needed to go inside and find my friends, but I couldn’t bring myself to open the door. I felt as though there was more to say.

Rocker cleared his throat, apparently feeling the tension in the air. “Come home with me.”

I jerked in surprise, hoping the gasp I’d let escape wasn’t as loud as it sounded in my head. I looked over my shoulder at him, sure my eyes were huge. “I’m sorry, but I think I missed a step. I… uh, I’m not…” A slut. Someone who would sleep with her ex’s best friend. Jesus, I knew I hadn’t met Matty’s friends under the best circumstances and most of them thought I was a whore because I was still married then, but wow. These guys had a really shitty opinion of me.

“You didn’t.” Rocker interrupted my thoughts—I’m not sure if he realized where my mind had gone. He tipped his head and looked at me. “The boys and I are drivin’ home tonight. You can come with us. By the time you find your friends and go get food, it’ll be time to catch the Downeastah. It’s stupid to pay for a train when I’m drivin’ back.”

I slowly released the breath I’d been holding, feeling like an idiot but relieved by his explanation. I thought about his offer for a few minutes, not sure it was a good idea. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to get Cris to meet me then… it’ll be early tomorrow morning by the time we get there. And I don’t have any of my stuff.”

I could just make out his frown in the parking lot lights. “Ya know that I have tons of room, right? You can crash there for the night. We’ll stop and get your shit on the way.” He seemed to sense my hesitation. “Joey, Cris knows where I live. She can come get you there—aftah you’ve had a decent night’s sleep.” He shut off the truck. “Go say good-bye to your friends while I grab mine.”

He slammed the door after he got out. Apparently the discussion was over and the decision had been made. Riding with him would be more convenient than riding down on the Amtrak tomorrow. I just didn’t know how I was going to survive a three-hour ride with Matty’s friends; hopefully I’d fall asleep quickly.

Rocker waited and followed me into the building. As soon as we were inside, he headed toward the bar in search of Hawk and God knew who else, while I stopped and scanned the crowd. I found the girls quickly—on the dance floor, almost right where I’d left them. Mere only laughed and jumped excitedly when I told her I was bailing on breakfast and heading home with Rob. I shook my head, denying her implications, but she smiled and winked, telling me to live it up and have a little fun, that it was time to break my dry streak. I was slightly irritated as I turned and went in search of my ride. The music suddenly quieted, and the lights came on—last call was over. I groaned, realizing we wouldn’t be back to the apartment before sun-up.

Rob wasn’t hard to spot; a man his size was generally given a wide berth. He was leaning against the bar, talking to Fred and Hawk. I was half surprised the three of them didn’t have a bunch of drunk nitwits hanging off them, begging for attention—or more. They were all very handsome—if you liked that tattooed, rugged, dangerous biker look. I smiled, thinking of the one tattooed biker I definitely found beautiful. Thoughts of Matty invaded, and I shook my head, trying to clear it. Now was not the time to get my libido all wound up. I walked toward them slowly, dreading finding out who else had come up with Rocker.

“I haven’t seen him in hours. Should be back by now.”

Fred rolled his shoulders, clearly annoyed. “Didja call him?”

Hawk nodded. “Yeah, a few times.”

“If he’s not back in ten minutes, he can find his own fuckin’ way home.” Rocker’s voice was low and gravelly, obviously irritated.

I stepped up next to Hawk. “Who are we missing?”

“Dean,” Hawk said before anyone else could.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fred glance at me, but I met Hawk’s eyes instead. He smiled, giving his face a softer look. The man had intimidated me when I first met him, and I had no doubt that he had the same effect on many others. Not as tall as Rob, Hawk still towered over most men. His broad shoulders combined with his height made me feel much smaller than I actually was, something a girl my size could seriously appreciate. The top half of his shoulder-length blond hair was pulled back, allowing me an unobstructed view of his wide nose, thin lips, and adorable dimple in his chin.

One dark eyebrow suddenly shot up as he watched me inspect him. “Like what you see?” His voice was full of humor, but I could feel embarrassment creep in and my cheeks flame just the same.

“Jesus, leave her alone!” Fred’s deep voice interrupted as he slammed a massive fist on the counter. “Joey, aah ya really gonna ride to Beantown with these assholes?”

I laughed, nodding. I was about to tell him that I’d be fine when Rob swore.

“It’s about fucking time. Where in the hell have you been?”

Dean just smirked, shaking his head, as he strolled up to our group. “You’re wicked smaht. brotha. I’m suah you can figyah it out.”

He winked, his eyes twinkling, and I didn’t have to see more than the untucked shirt or his messed up hair to know exactly what he’d been doing. I didn’t want to know where—or with who. He looked like he was going to go into detail though, and I groaned at the idea. Dark green eyes snapped to me, widening in surprise.

“Joey?” He looked uncomfortable, glancing between Rocker and Hawk.

Rob leaned toward Dean. “You’ah lucky ya got back when you did. Five more minutes, and I was leaving your ass heah. Your date would have hadta bring ya home.” He slapped the bar twice, tipping his head toward the door. “Let’s go. Later, brothah,” he hollered to Fred.

I stopped to give the massive barkeep a quick hug, kissed his cheek good-bye, and followed Hawk out the door.

“Joey’s got shotgun!” Rocker hollered as Dean yanked open the passenger door.

Dean jerked back as if the handle had burned him and turned slowly, surprise written all over his face. “What? Last time I checked, we weren’t a fuckin’ taxi.” He waved at me as if to shoo me away. “Go find some othah dumbass to rescue you, ‘cause we don’t give two flyin’ fucks.”

Rocker stopped next to me abruptly, reaching out to the small of my back the way Matty always did. “Last time I checked, it was my fuckin’ truck, so you don’t tell me who can ride and who can’t. Joey’s family. She’s coming with us.” Dean looked as if he was going to argue, but Rob shook his head. “Just shut your trap.”

I tensed, not wanting to cause a problem between friends, wondering if it was too late to catch Mere and the girls. Rob moved his hand from my back to my upper arm, as if he sensed I was thinking about bolting. Hawk only laughed, as if seeing his friends yell at each other was a normal occurrence, and climbed into the backseat on Rocker’s side.

Dean didn’t move. “You know Matty will throw a shit fit if he finds out you aah takin’ her home.” He glared at me. “Don’t do it, brothah.” His low voice held a warning.

“And you don’t know shit. Get in the truck and shut your fuckin’ mouth or find anotha way back.”

I tried to pull away from Rob, but he refused to let me go. Of course he’d be here with Dean; the man had barely tolerated me when I was dating Matty and obviously loathed me now. Why couldn’t it have been Tiny? I groaned. I wouldn’t survive three hours with these men. Dean gave me a nasty look but climbed in beside Hawk, leaving me alone in parking lot with Rocker.

“That goes for you too. Get in the truck, Joey.”

“Instead of stopping to get my stuff, you can just drop me off at my friend’s, then I’ll catch the train tomorrow as planned.”

Rocker walked toward the black beast, shaking his head and pulling me along. “Naw. You’re comin’ with us. It’ll be fine.” He opened the door and lifted me up again.

It was anything but fine. I sent a quick text to Teagan to let her know I’d be stopping by and she and Tom better be decent, then I gave directions to Rob. The other two were silent, and tension filled the cab. I could almost feel Dean’s glare burning a hole in my seat. Music. We needed music. Without thinking, I leaned over and turned on the radio, surprised when “Midnight in Montgomery” filled the air. I couldn’t stop the smile that formed.

“Alan Jackson?” I turned to look at the giant man next to me. “Really?”

Rob didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Yes, really.” He didn’t sound annoyed, just curious. “You got something wrong with Alan Jackson? Or is it country music in general?”

I laughed. “No! I love country. Nate Kelly is my favorite singer ever. I just pictured you listening to… something else.”

“Such as?” I couldn’t see his face in the dark truck, but the humor in his voice was unmistakable.

“I dunno… Godsmack. Disturbed. Marilyn Manson, maybe.” I shrugged. “You know, loud, scary, ‘stay the hell away from me ‘cause I’ll seriously fuck shit up if I don’t get my own way’ music.”

Rocker laughed. Stopping at a red light, he turned toward me. “Why would you think that?”

I just stared at him, taking in the whole picture. His outfit said he’d come to the bar right after work: beat-up work boots of some sort were hidden beneath jeans that were worn around the knees but still managed to make him look hot, a beat-up tee covered a long-sleeved gray waffle-knit, sleeves pushed back to the elbows showing the tattoos that danced down his muscular right arm.

A ring graced his middle finger on the left hand he had draped across the steering wheel, and he wore two more on his right. The scruff around his jaw told me he hadn’t shaved in a few days, and while it would make most men look sloppy, it only made him look more precarious and appealing. His black beanie was pulled low so I couldn’t see his hair, adding to the overall picture. He was the epitome of dangerous.

Looks had never been more deceiving, but he wanted to know, so I gladly shared. “Gee, I don’t know.” My sarcasm was hard to hide. “Maybe ‘cause you look like you’re ready to beat someone to death.” I smiled. “Seriously, you dress like a badass biker thug.”

Hawk’s laughter filled the truck as the light turned green. “Badass biker thug? Fuckin’ perfect.”

I was half-relieved when Rob turned the truck into Teagan’s driveway, because I needed to get out of the truck and away from the three of them. The other half was nervous though, wondering if I could go inside and lock the Bastards out just so I didn’t have to go with them. I jumped out of the cab as soon as Rob stopped, somehow managing to stay on my feet, and walked as quickly as I could on the ice-covered ground in heels. I was halfway up the front steps when his words stopped me.

“You got ten minutes, Joey. If you’re not out theah by then, I’m comin’ in to getcha.” His voice was low and full of warning. “I may listen to country, but I will fuck shit up if I don’t get my own way. Remember that.”

Chapter 5

Jo

Someone nudged me. I didn’t want to wake up—my dreams were too good. Matty and I were sitting on a couch, me leaning against his shoulders, his strong arms snug around me, as he kissed my temple lightly every few minutes. He was singing along to the music, laughing. He was happy, and when his eyes turned to me, they were full of affection. I wanted to stay in this moment forever, wrapped up in nothing but Matty, loving him for eternity. Another nudge made me open my eyes.

“Hey, you awake?”

I sat up a little and leaned forward, trying to figure out where I was. I blinked against the bright street lights and wiped my mouth, ashamed when I realized I had a line of spittle working its way toward my chin. I couldn’t stifle the yawn that escaped. God, I was tired. Tipping my head back, I fought the urge to close my eyes again.

“You snore, ya know that, right?”

I started, almost yelping, at the voice right next to my ear.

Rocker laughed then cleared his throat. “Sorry.” He moved underneath me, making me jump again. “Jesus, you aah wicked jumpy!”