Snake Charmer (Rawkfist MC Book 2) (5 page)

Journey

O
n Friday, I leave work early to run a
few errands. Driving along the quiet roads calms me, so I take the scenic route
home while listening to music on full blast. My thoughts manage to avoid
Donovan for a short bit, and I need the break from my constant lust.

A mile before reaching home, I get a
call from a panicked Justice.

“You have to leave work and come to the
store and save me.”

Deciding not to share my location with
her, I ask, “What now?”

“A crazy old homeless man came into the
store, and said he’s my grandpa. What should I do?”

“Hug him and invite him to dinner.”

“I think he has bugs in his hair. Would
it be rude to spray him with insect repellent first?”

“That isn’t a real question, so I’m not
answering it.”

Justice lowers her voice and says, “I’m
so scared.”

“Are you doing your impression of the
chick from
The Blair Witch Project
?”

“No, I’m actually scared.”

“Sure.”

“He looks hungry. What if he tries to
eat me? I’m not really all that good at fighting.”

“If he’s our grandfather and needs to
eat you, I figure you ought to offer up a chunk of your body that Court won't
miss.”

“He loves every inch of me.”

“Can you find a way to cut off your big
mouth and give that to Grandpa? I think Court would approve. I know I would.”

“Okay, well, then fudge you up the bum
too, queef lover.”

Justice hangs up, waits a few minutes,
and then calls me back.

“Mom didn’t answer,” she says. “Her
assistant claims there's an emergency. I think she’s just dodging my call.”

“Why ever would she do that?” I ask,
wishing I'd avoided it too.

“Are you coming to save me?”

“From what?”

“The old man eyeballing me.”

“Can’t you call Court? He’s close by,
and it’s not like he has anything to do during the day when the kids are at school
and daycare.”

“He has a job, you know?”

“A cover job so his parole officer
won’t know he’s working for the club.”

“Shhh, the po-po could be listening.”

“Yeah, but they aren’t. Call your man.”

“I tried, but he didn’t answer. I think
he’s avoiding me since I said no to the butt thing.”

“You mean the baby thing?”

“Whatever. He says we’d make a great
kid. While I agree my offspring would be frigging fantastic, I’m already
exhausted from taking care of two kids and satisfying Court’s unquenchable
sexual desires.”

“He says you’re the one always begging
for sex.”

“Yeah, well, it feels good.”

Parking my SUV, I sigh. “I want you to
accept how I’ll never leave work to help you with a stupid problem. Do you
understand that?”

“No. What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying don’t let this go to your
head.”

“What?”

I enter the convenience store to find
Justice huddled behind the counter. A man I assume is my reclusive grandfather
stands near the rotating hot dogs. He glances at me before returning his gaze
to Justice.

My sister runs around the counter and hugs
me to her.

“I knew you’d drop everything to save
me.”

“I was nearby. I dropped nothing. You’d
be smart to keep in mind how I’m still willing to ditch you.”

“I understand. You need to pretend you
don’t worship me. It’s fine. I won’t rub it in your face,” she says, glancing
at Zeb Earlham. “I will rub it in Poppy’s face later, though.”

“Hello,” I say, shrugging off my
sister. “Are you Zeb?”

“Who’s asking?”

“I’m Journey. Christine’s older and
better daughter.”

“Arrogant,” Justice mumbles.

Zeb looks me over and then looks at
Justice. “She looks more like Christine.”

“I look like Jared.”

“Poor child,” he says, shaking his
head. “Life is a trial for you, ain’t it?”

Though I assume Zeb’s kidding, he
doesn’t smile. I study the old man wearing tattered clothes and a hat made out
of newspaper.

“Christine was looking for you when we
got to town,” I explain, “but you were hiding. I don’t know if she cares to
find you now.”

“My girl was always finicky.”

“Why are you here?”

“I came into town for supplies, and
Mary May Johnson said I had a granddaughter at this store.”

“That’s a beautiful story,” Justice
says from behind me. “Do you need me to loan you money for a brush?”

I can’t help laughing at Justice’s
sincere tone. She’s so full of crap most days, but sometimes her turd level
hits epic proportions.

“Did you want something besides saying
hello?” I ask Zeb.

“No, I guess not,” he mutters. “What’s
wrong with her?”

“She’s stupid.”

Justice smacks my ass and walks away.
“Thanks for the help, Groucho. You can return to work now.”

“Would you like to come to our house
for dinner some night?” I ask Zeb.

“I can come tonight.”

“Our house is being fumigated,” Justice
announces from behind the front counter. “Sorry, Grampa.”

Zeb looks at me. “You have your dad’s
eyebrows.”

“I know.”

“Did you know he stole your mother’s
virginity?”

“Did she file a police report?” Justice
asks and then laughs at her own joke.

“She doesn’t shut up, does she?”

“No,” I say and wonder how this grumpy
hermit will handle Poppy. I’m sure dinner tonight will be fricking fantastic.
“What time do you want to come by?”

“Right now.”

“It’s three in the afternoon and no one
is at the house.”

“You hiding something you don’t want me
to see?” he asks, giving me a devious smile that reminds me of Christine when
she thinks she’s caught us in lies.

“Do you know where the house is?”

“Sure. It’s on my pa’s old property.”

“Come around six when everyone is
home.”

“Your father won’t be around, will he?”

“No,” I say and immediately decide to
invite Jared. “See you then.”

After giving him a tight smile, I walk
to where Justice shakes her head.

“He’s going to give the pets fleas,”
she says.

“You need to watch your manners.”

“I’ll need to find them first.”

“Cute,” I say, grinning. “Once Zeb
leaves, you need to call Dad and ask him to come to dinner. Mom will need
backup.”

“Can I call Mom and tell her what
happened?”

“No way. You’ll make her crazy before
he even shows up.”

“I’ll tell her the news gently,”
Justice promises.

“Shut up and call Dad.”

Justice looks over my shoulder. “He’s
still here.”

“Ignore him.”

“I’m afraid to look away. What if he’s
feral like those people in the
Wrong Turn
movies?”

“He’s our kin, dummy. If he’s got
inbred blood, so do you.”

“Hmm…,” Justice says, tapping her chin.
“Having an inbred-tainted bloodline might explain Poppy.”

“I’m leaving,” I say, tossing a few
dollars on the counter. “I’m taking these Andes Chocolates Mints.”

“Mint is gross,” she says, taking the
money. “Why are you so gross? Oh, never mind. You’re just inbred.”

“That does answer so many questions,
doesn’t it?”

Justice smiles at me, but her eyes
remain focused on Zeb. “Don’t go until he leaves the store.”

“Nope. I’m out of here. See you at
home.”

“I hate you and all you stand for.”

“Don’t care.”

Driving away from the store, I realize
an awkward evening with the family is exactly the kind of distraction I need
from Donovan’s irresistible smile.

Donovan

C
ourt stands on the other side of the
doorway with a six pack of beer hanging from one hand and a pizza container in
the other. After giving him the once over, I try to shut the door. He laughs
before kicking it open.

Soon, he gets comfortable in my
kitchen. Even wearing a ripped shirt and baggy jeans, he gives off a domesticated
vibe. No doubt the strong floral detergent scent his clothes give off has
something to do with it.

“Should you really be here?” I ask.

“I tried calling you to set up a
meeting somewhere private, but you ignored me.”

“That I did.”

“Are you feeling shy about your crush
on Journey?” he asks, smirking at his comment.

“No. I like my privacy. You know that
better than anyone.”

“That I do.”

“Why are you here then?”

“I figured you needed someone to gossip
with, and I know you don’t have any friends.”

“You figured wrong. Of course, since
you came with food, I’ll be hospitable and let you stay long enough to finish
the beer and pizza.”

“I figure you would.”

I turn down the TV music station
playing George Jones. Kitty stands at the back door, watching Court. I know he
smells the pizza and wants pepperoni. I let the dog inside the house where he
circles Court a few times before joining me on the couch.

“He’s gotten big,” Court says, sitting
on the couch too since I don’t have any chairs in the house.

“That’s right. You haven’t seen him in
a year.”

“He never really grew into those silly
fucking ears.”

“You’re lucky he’s more interested in
the pepperoni than your insults or a hard nose nudge to the crotch would be in
your future,” I say, giving Kitty one more slice of meat. “Now that we got the
dog talk out of the way, what do you want?”

After stretching his arms along the
back of the couch, Court smiles at me. “I noticed you checking out Journey at
the fair, and I figured you’d make a move. Then nothing happened for a long
damn time. I was just wondering what lit the fire under your ass.”

“There was all that stuff with Justice
testifying against Becca. I decided to hold back and let things settle down. I
was also on suspension. Now I’m back at work, making me a respectable choice
for a smart chick like Journey.”

“She is smart. Tough too. I don’t know
how much she wants a relationship, though.”

The entire time Court eats a slice of
pizza; his gaze remains on me. I know he’s considering whether to tell me
something. I don’t particularly want to know whatever he’s dying to share. I’m
not in the mood for bad news about Journey.

“How’s married life treating you?” I
ask, hoping to distract him.

“It’s good, man. Waking up with Justice
every morning is better than anything I’ve ever known. She is always making me
laugh, and she loves me like crazy. It’s the gooey girly love that should
smother me but is invigorating instead.”

“Felix must be happy to live with you
full time.”

“He’s doing great. His grades are
better at school too. Getting to bed every night at a reasonable time and
knowing he’s safe really helps him. Matilda is more confident too. She might
even end up as mouthy as Justice one day.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible. I
only met her once, and she barely shut up.”

“Silence feels wrong to me now.”

“No doubt.”

“Journey wants a baby,” he blurts out.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. She’s more interested in having
a kid than a man. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. I do hate to gossip, but
I figured you’d want to know the score with Journey. I know I would if it was
me.”

“She wants a kid. So what? She’s at the
age where most chicks are thinking things like that.”

“I wanted you to know she might be
looking at you as a sperm donor.”

“Having a kid with someone like Journey
would be a step up from anything I planned for myself.”

“Glad you’re cool with it. If you
weren’t and blew off Journey, Justice would be pissed.”

“Scary,” I say, grinning as I gulp down
a beer.

“Justice is no pushover. She’ll get
really quiet and then really loud. She withholds sex and then gets flirty. I
swear she’s impossible to defend against.”

“You guys thinking of having a kid?”

“I figured she’d want to, but Justice
isn’t ready. She wants to wait a few years.”

“Makes sense. You guys just got
married, moved into the house, and have two kids already. Why rush it?”

“I thought it made sense to have a kid
before Felix became a teenager. Justice wants me to herself, but I also think
she’s afraid of pushing a kid out of her lady bits. Whenever I mention having a
baby, she crosses her legs and looks pained.”

Laughing at his expression, I say,
“Well, she’s the one who’d do all the hard work, so good for her on being
honest.”

“Lying is not Justice’s strong suit.”

“It’s not Journey’s either.”

“Has she tried lying to you a lot?”

“Yeah, but she’s testing me.
Everything’s a challenge when it comes to Journey. That’s fine since I’d be
hopelessly unprepared for a clingy woman. If Journey chased me, I’d likely
change my name and move to another town.”

“Two commitment hating people in a
relationship ought to be fun to watch.”

“Glad to entertain.”

Court wipes his mouth on his shirt and
then frowns at the spot. I grin at his expression.

“Worried your woman will give you a
lecture about using a napkin?”

“This is Justice we’re talking about.
She uses my shirt as a napkin all of the time especially after quickie sex when
she’s at work.”

“I didn’t need that level of details.”

“Don’t be a prude.”

“I don’t mind the fucking image when it
comes to Justice, but thinking of you naked makes me nauseous. If that makes me
a prude, so be it.”

“Look, man, I know you have your own
crap to deal with like work and chasing a woman who isn’t looking to be caught.
That’s gonna take up a lot of your day and all, but I need to ask a favor.”

“Of course, you do. Why else bring the
beer except to liquor me up so I’ll say yes?”

Court gives me a sly grin. “Yeah, I
figured it’d help.”

“What’s the deal? Another snitch you
need me to hunt down?”

“No. I got a message from a guy I was
friendly with in prison. He was in a hardcore group of fuckers from Charleston
and wanted out. I suggested he give Tumbling Rock a try. He’s a big guy. Tough
and loyal. Seemed like a good match.”

“Now he’s getting out, and you’re
rethinking your offer.”

“Not so much the offer, but I don’t know
if I want him coming to the house and being around my kids.”

“What was he in for?”

“He beat the shit out of three guys who
messed with his high school girlfriend. They weren’t together anymore, but he
still defended her. Sounds heartwarming except he fucked those guys up pretty
seriously. Was doing a ten-year stint.”

“You said he’s loyal, but he’s ditching
his old crew.”

“Emmett said they went from respectable
pimping and drugs into neo-Nazi crap. He wasn’t looking to be in the Klan. I
don’t think that’s such a bad reason to ditch a crew. You know we could use
fresh blood in Rawkfist. I can imagine him fitting in around here, and the
local girls would love him. He’s got a dirty mouth, and that ought to play
well. He also likes to hit people and could give us needed muscle. The problem
is Emmett might go around hitting people we don’t want hit. I also don’t know
if I want him spouting off around Justice and the kids.”

“I think Justice can handle it. I
overheard some of the things she whispered to you at the fair.”

Court smiles embarrassed at his foul
mouth wife’s suggestions. “Okay, she’d be fine, but I haven’t seen the guy in a
few years, and I don’t want to invite him to the house. I figured maybe you’d
meet him with me somewhere a bit off the grid. I don’t want anyone gossiping
before I’m sure he’s a good fit.”

“No problem. I’m all for you finding
more backup in the club. One day, all those old guys will keel over, and you’ll
be alone.”

“That might happen no matter what I
do.”

“Speaking of old guys, why don’t you
bring Jared along with you?”

“He doesn’t think right about stuff
since his girls moved back to Tumbling Rock. He’ll see Emmett and wonder if the
guy is appropriate to live around his daughters. I don’t care if he’s a pig. I
only want to know if Emmett is controllable. I’m not inviting a threat into
town.”

“What if you tell him no?”

“I don’t know. He only sent an email
saying he was getting out and thought he’d check out Tumbling Rock. I sense for
now he isn’t sure of anything. He just doesn’t want to return to Charleston.”

Court in a leadership role feels odd to
me. For a long time, he’s been the quiet outsider or the good guy who does bad
things. While I get how he wants to save his motorcycle club, Court needs more
than one guy to make a crew.

“I’ll help you but don’t share that
info with Justice.”

“I can’t lie to her.”

We share a laugh, knowing he’s full of
shit. Court finally shakes his head.

“Justice knows I don’t tell her club
shit because she doesn’t need or really want to know club shit. Her life is
simpler without the details.”

“Good. I don’t need Journey giving me
hell for helping you. She’s got plenty of other reasons to give me hell.”

“You two sound like a love match.”

“Fuck off, Boy Scout.”

“So sensitive,” Court says, standing
up. “I need to get going. We have someone coming to dinner tonight that’ll be a
clusterfuck. Anyway, good luck with your journey with Journey.”

“Funny.”

“Not really. I do hope you guys work
out. If I get another man hanging around the family, I’d rather it be you.”

Walking Court to the door, I watch him
disappear down the driveway to his Harley. Long after he leaves, his words roll
around in my head. I’m once again struck by how I hadn’t considered the
long-term consequences of dating Journey. I just wanted her, and that was as
far as my thought process went.

“I’ve been alone too damn long,” I tell
Kitty.

The dog rests on his side, looking
exhausted after his pepperoni meal. I try to envision a life with Journey.
Where
will we live? Will Kitty get along with her pets? How will I deal with family
occasions when I can barely tolerate visiting the Mooney clan I’ve known my
entire life?

Unable to imagine such complications, I
finish the six pack while fantasizing about simpler things like Journey’s smile
and laugh. I recall her bright blue eyes when she’s happy and the faded green
ones when she’s grumpy. When my mind remains on easy concepts like her beauty
and wanting to kiss her, the tension fades.

I’ll deal with reality another day.