Ryker (The Ride #4) (10 page)

My phone rang as I was forcing myself up out of bed. My heart pounded, as I hoped it was Ry.

Instead it was my former roommate and friend, Samantha, crying out, “Pipe, we need you!”

“Good morning to you too,” I muttered dryly, sitting up and running a hand through my bedraggled hair.

“Sorry, good morning and all that shit,” she rushed to say, making me laugh. Sam was always rushing to get her words out, as though her mouth was always a step behind her thoughts. She was a lovable, loud ball of chaos. Always. “We have this gig in Reno, right in your backyard. Any chance we can crash with you?” she asked.

I winced, thinking about the lovable chaos she and the guys—my former roommates and her bandmates—would bring.

“I can’t, Sam,” I continued regretfully. “Some shit’s going down here with my dad, and it’s just not a good time,” I told her regretfully.

“What? What happened?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you later, I can’t get into it now.” I sighed. I really couldn’t. I felt completely wrung out.

“Shit, okay.” She blew out a loud breath.

“I’m sorry, I’d love to see you guys and to help you out,” I said with sincerity.

“I know, babe, another time hopefully.” I could hear her smile through the phone. “Miss you.”

“Yeah, me too,” I agreed. Sam wasn’t known for the warm and fuzzies, and I knew she must really miss me. The feeling was mutual. “Talk soon.”

I hung up and sat listening to the deafening silence all around me. I looked at the side of the bed where Ryker had lain, the indent in his pillow still visible.

“Just get up,” I muttered to myself, forcing myself to do just that.

A few hours later, I was trying to fight my shock as I spoke to my father’s doctor, Ettie beside me. She’d texted that morning and offered to take me to the hospital.

“What do you mean
paid
for?” I asked in shock.

“The mental health facility I mentioned yesterday. A placement has already been arranged for your father, and it’s been fully paid for,” the doctor explained.

“But…” I trailed off, wondering if I needed more coffee. Maybe I was still half-asleep and dreaming.

“I know, I was pretty surprised myself,” he admitted, before continuing,

“Ms. Owens, your father needs this. Physically, he’ll recover from this event. Mentally, without help he may not. I’d take it and be grateful,” he advised.

I fought against the walls that suddenly felt like they were closing in at his dire words. If my dad didn’t get help he could
die
. That was a hell of a reality to grapple with.

“Visitors are discouraged for a few days,” he added, as I regarded him in shock.

“What? Why?” I demanded.

“He’s been overmedicating for some time now,” he explained. “He’ll be going through a supervised withdrawal. He’ll be in no condition for visitors.” He shook his head.

“I should have done more.” I shook my head, feeling an enormous amount of guilt. “I didn’t pay enough attention; I just didn’t know it was this bad.”

“You can’t blame yourself,” the doctor responded in a kind voice. “He has to do this on his own. He has to make the choice to get better, with help.”

I nodded, as Ettie wrapped an arm around me.

“Thank you, doctor.” I nodded, somberly before heading off to my father’s room.

“Hi, Dad,” I whispered, moving to his bedside.

“Hi, bunny,” he replied, his voice like gravel, as he motioned me closer.

My eyes filled with tears as I leaned forward and laid my head on his chest. He ran his hand over my hair. “My strong girl,” he rasped.

I felt anything but strong.

“It’s my turn. I’m gonna get better so I can be strong for you—it’s just going to take some time. Don’t give up,” he whispered.

I lifted my head, eyeing him through a sheen of tears. “I won’t,” I promised. “I’ll be there the first moment you’re allowed visitors, okay?”

“I’ll look forward to that,” he replied, pinching my chin in a familiar gesture.

“Love you, Dad,” I rasped, wiping tears away and sitting up straighter.

“Love you too, sweetie.”

“Well that sucked,” I breathed hoarsely, once I found Ettie waiting for me in the hall.

“Aw babe, I’m sorry,” she replied, wrapping an arm around me and leading me out of the hospital. “The girls want to meet for a late lunch. You up for it?”

I hadn’t heard from Ryker and the nagging doubt that ensued, combined with everything going on with my dad, had me hungry for distraction. “That sounds good,” I agreed.

Not an hour later I sat at an outdoor table with Ettie, Connie, Scarlet, and Kat, who I’d just met. Gracie was sitting in a high chair playing with a toy teacup and baby Wren was asleep in her car seat next to Kat. A heat lamp loomed overhead, cutting the chill in the air.

“The guys should be back in a few hours,” Scarlet announced with a smile, looking at an incoming text on her phone.

“Yeah, Wes called to check in about an hour ago,” Connie chimed in.

“So they, uh, have cell reception, then?” I ventured.

They all exchanged a look before Connie squeezed my arm. “You were hoping Ry would check in?”

I shrugged, trying to hide the sting of rejection.

“Did something happen between you two?” Ettie asked hopefully.

I sat back in my chair, tearing at my napkin. “Aside from me sleeping with him the night my dad gets hospitalized and having him leave at the crack of dawn with no call since then?” I shot out, unable to stop myself.

“Oh, shit,” Ettie breathed.

“He doesn’t even have to check in. I just thought he might with everything that’s going on.” I shrugged, continuing to decimate my napkin. “I don’t even know what’s happening between us,” I admitted.

“Honey, the man claimed you the moment you got back into town, whether he was aware of it or not.” Scarlet grinned. “He just had to go the long way round.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged, biting my fingernail anxiously.

“He
should
have checked in,” Scarlet added. “If I had to guess, I’d say that he’s probably not used to thinking about that. He’s been on his own a long time with no one to be accountable to but the club.”

“Try not to worry about it,” Connie added.

“Right.” I nodded unconvincingly.

“Oh shit.” Kat gasped with wide eyes, as she looked behind me.

“What?” I asked, as we all turned to watch five unfamiliar, scary-looking bikers approach our table.

“Look, boys, it’s the Knights’ bitches,” the largest one sneered, as they came to stand next to our table, staring down at us. He scanned the table before his cold stare landed on me. “This one’s new.” He leered.

I winced, drawing as far from him as my chair would allow.

“’Bout the only thing we can say for these fucks, they have good taste in pussy,” one of them chortled with a gleam in his eye.

Scarlet had lifted Gracie into her lap and Kat had a hand on Wren’s car seat. The fact that these men were threatening us with children present made my blood boil.

“So whose old lady are you?” the largest one prodded, picking up a piece of my hair and inspecting it through dirty fingers.

I pulled out of his grasp, my heart pounding in fear.

“She’s Ryker’s,” Ettie cut in firmly, when I didn’t respond. “What do you want?”

“We thought we’d check in on our soon-to-be acquired property.” He chuckled darkly, his eyes sliding over each of us.

Something told me he meant more than just Hawthorne. I fought back a shiver of revulsion.

“We’ll be seeing you all again real soon.” He winked, turned on his heel, and walked out to the street with the rest of the men behind him.

“What the hell was that?” I exclaimed with wide eyes.

“We need to go,” Kat said by way of answer, as everyone began throwing money on the table and scraping their chairs back.

“What was that, Etts?” I demanded as she drove me home.

“
That
was the Black Riders,” she muttered. “I’d say with that situation any hope of a peace talk is out.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, with a wrinkled brow.

She looked at me like I was crazy. “They just threatened us—you especially, I might add. And Wren and Gracie were here.” She shook her head. “The guys are going to go absolutely ape shit. I’ll drop you home. Look, I’m sorry I don’t have time to explain now. Ry should be back in town with the rest of the guys in the next few hours. Call you soon.”

“Uh, okay,” was all I could manage, as I tried without success to grasp the events of the last twenty-four hours. I got out of the car, watching her taillights as she drove away.

Dusk had just set in and I stood on the curb looking up at the dark house before me. I was ashamed to admit I was scared to go inside.

Had I ever spent the night in this house alone? I didn’t think so. Sure, my dad had been largely holed up in his room since I’d been back, but just knowing he was under the same roof as me was some measure of comfort. I hadn’t heard from Ryker; his phone had gone straight to voice mail when I tried.

With everything that had transpired over the last twenty-four hours, not to mention being openly threatened by a rival MC, for the
second
time, I wasn’t thrilled to face the already depressing space alone.

I pulled my phone out and listened to it ring once before she picked up. “Hey.”

“Still need a place to crash?”

Chapter 10

“W
hat up, bitch!” Sam cried later that night, after I opened the door to her and my other former roommates, Caden and Sid.

“Hey.” I forced a smile, pulling the dogs back and ushering them into the house. “Purple, eh?” I commented, eyeing the purple tips of her hair. Sam was beautiful, with porcelain skin and green eyes. Her attitude and curvy figure always had men falling all over themselves. She was also the best damn singer I’d ever heard. She was a true performer and had always been most at home on stage.

She and the guys had formed the band Red Tape several years ago. I was their biggest fan, and when we’d lived together, I’d never missed a show.

She shrugged. Her naturally blonde hair had been every color of the rainbow at one point or another.

“Piper!” Caden exclaimed theatrically, wrapping me in a brief hug, followed by Sid.

“It’s so good to see you guys.” I sighed a relived breath.

The three of them had been like an extended family. A brash, gregarious, family.

“Our girl here needs some TLC,” Sam informed the boys.

“Do we know how to do that?” Caden asked with genuine disbelief, his brow rising to his hairline.

“Hell yes, we do,” she informed him firmly.

“Good thing we brought vodka,” he muttered, moving to the kitchen.

“And ice cream.” Sam winked.

*****

We’d made ourselves comfortable in the family room, lounging across the sofas with the dogs at our feet. Over more ice cream than vodka, I told them everything. The three of them listened as I unraveled the jumbled web of events since I’d returned to Hawthorne.

“I just feel so overwhelmed,” I admitted. “I came home to take care of my dad, and I’m in so far over my head because I have no idea how to help him. I thought I could be like her, you know? I thought I could fix it like she would have,” I murmured, referring to my mother. “So naïve.” I shook my head in disgust. “Then things with Ryker have been so confusing,” I groaned.

“First of all,” Sid spoke up, his intelligent blue eyes watching me intently. “Your mother couldn’t have fixed this.” He shook his head. “Your dad needs medical attention—to the point where he’s been hospitalized and needs to detox. You can’t put that on your shoulders. As for Ryker—what can I say, guys are fucking dumb.” He chuckled darkly and I wondered how much he was referring to himself. “He probably thinks you guys were clear when he left. He didn’t see a need to check in, not realizing the state you’re in. He should have, but again, guys are fucking idiots.” He shrugged.

“Has he tried to call you recently?” Sam wanted to know.

I shrugged. “Not since the last time I checked. My phone just died, I need to charge it,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.

“Anyone would be overwhelmed, babe, you have a lot of shit on your shoulders right now,” Sam put in. “It sounds like you’ve made some good friends in Hawthorne, and you have us. Lean on your friends,” she advised sagely. “And this friend is stating that you need to go to bed,” she added, pointing a finger at me.

I nodded in full agreement. “You can bunk with me. Boys, the guest room has a queen so you can sleep nice and cozy.” I grinned.

Caden’s eyes widened, looking over at Sid. “I’m not sharing a bed with this asshole,” he replied in mock horror. “I’d rather take the couch.”

“Works for me, this asshole will take the bed,” Sid returned.

At four years older Sid was far more serious than his brother Caden but the two had always been close.

I bit back a laugh, enjoying their all too familiar antics. “Thanks, guys. Seriously, you should give yourselves more credit. You got me through after my mom died, and now this. I’d say you’re pretty good at this whole TLC thing.”

“Who knew?” Caden shrugged.

I woke up to yelling downstairs and it only took me a second to recognize the voice and vault from bed with Sam at my heels.

“Who the fuck are you?” Ryker was growling from the entryway, as he glared at a half-naked Caden.

Shit.

“Hello to you too. Can I help you?” Caden quipped, as Ry pushed his way inside.

That’s when I got a look at his face. He had a black eye and a split lip.

“Uh, hey,” I stammered, moving around Caden to stare at Ryker in shock. “What are you doing here? What happened?”

“Who the fuck is this?” Ryker demanded by way of answer, his eyes narrowed to slits. He looked to be about a second away from slugging Caden.

“He’s my former roommate. My
friend
,” I emphasized, to try to pacify him. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” I asked, with a wrinkled brow.

Ryker moved into my space, energy crackling around him like a live wire. I backpeddled so fast I ended up with my back to the wall.