Strays (Red Kings #1) (17 page)

If she could only get through one more day with Dean.

***

The Macon charter arrived in Lakeside a few hours later, much to the relief of everyone in the group. Their brief stop to get gas had been filled with tension to say the least, and Jackie and Dean avoided each other at all costs.

After the standard greetings and introductions at the clubhouse, Tyler had quickly been whisked off by Finn, who had taken a liking to the young man when they first met. TJ and Jackie were by the line of bikes as Jagger tried to convince them that he'd come up with the perfect design for the artist to paint onto the tank of his machine.

Further down the lot, under the shade of the clubhouse's metal canopy, Dean stood with Vic and Bianca, the charter's ruling pair. The MC president was of average height and build, and didn't really look much like a biker at first glance. His dark hair was graying and peppered with white strands, hinting that he was a bit on the older side. His face was friendly and his blue eyes warm, a stark contrast from the Macon charter president.

Vic’s leading lady complimented him nicely. Bianca was about the same height as her husband, with a small frame and slim figure. Not looking a day over thirty five, her long dark hair was perfectly styled to match her fashion-forward outfit. She looked like she had just stepped off the pages of a magazine, the perfect biker queen. Her strong, guarded expression said that she was clearly the one people needed to impress in order to last around here.

The royal pair were eager to hear more about the favor they were doing for the usually private Macon enforcer.

“So what's her story?” Vic asked, puffing on a cigar as he leaned against a picnic table.

“Her and the prospect have been traveling together for a while. Somehow got from Queens to Macon.”

“She gonna bring me any shit?”

Dean shook his head, dark eyes glued to the girl laughing across the lot. “She's pretty harmless. Got a bit of a mouth on her sometimes.”

Vic rolled his eyes and grinned. “Just what I need, another diva.”

Bianca smacked him as he snickered. “Asshole,” she muttered as he gave her a quick peck on the lips before heading inside the clubhouse. She smiled as Dean continued to watch Jackie horse around with Jagger and TJ.

“So, that's your little lady, huh? She's cute.” Dean sent an empty glare to the biker queen, who merely scoffed at his reaction. “Don't even think about lying to me. What's going on with you two? I'm assuming the apartment was for her, but I haven't heard anything about you transferring down here.”

She pinned him with the motherly look that got him every time. He sat on top of the picnic table and sighed, looking down at his hands as he rested his elbows against his knees. “I have to do it, B. My responsibility first and foremost is to the club. And I can't focus on that when I'm around her. She's all I can think about.”

“And you think sending her here is going to change that?” Bianca wasn't sure what to think about the killer's new-found heart, but for his sake, she hoped this girl wasn't as stupid as the man in front of her was currently acting. Although, judging by the fact that they were in this situation to begin with, her hopes didn't go far.

“I have to try.” Dean looked up at her, his expression vulnerable for only a split second before returning to his usual stony mask. “This is what's best. For everyone.” He stood up and turned to leave, only to be stopped a moment later by a hand on his forearm.

“You want to be an idiot about this? That's fine with me. But when you come looking for her in six months because you've decided that you can't live without her, don't say I didn't tell you so.” She released his arm and smirked up at him, covering her eyes with a pair of dark sunglasses. “Did you ever think that maybe it's time to add to your responsibilities a little bit? Instead of throwing it all out the window?” With that, she turned and headed across the lot to the girl in question, who was still talking with Jagger and TJ. “C'mon, sweetheart. Let me show you your new apartment.”

Jackie looked at the older woman with wide eyes, her initial fear of the woman still firmly present. “I'm sorry, what?”

“You didn't think they'd make you find your own place, did you?” Jagger grinned down at a confused Jackie.

“The club has empty apartments, in case we ever need beds for more people than we can fit in the clubhouse.” Bianca crossed her arms over her chest as she stared down the smaller woman. “And seeing as the guys in Macon find you rather important, you get the luxury of moving into one. You don't even have to pay rent. Isn't that nice?” She gave Jackie a sarcastic smile and headed across the lot to her car.

In reality, the situation was nothing like that. Bianca had to do a bit of searching and a lot of threatening to get this apartment on such short notice. Dean was also currently giving Vic a large sum of money to pay for it. Young love, how sweet.

“She hates me,” Jackie whined, staring desperately up at Jagger.

“Ah, just a little. She initially hates everyone. It's nothing personal.” He paused momentarily, as if deep in thought. “Well, you are fucking one of her favorite guys. It might be a tiny bit personal.” She glared at his response before walking away from him to her own vehicle. “I was just kidding!” Jagger called after her. “Sort of...”

21

June 2
nd

After a night of partying as only the Macon boys knew how, which had resulted in a late start the next morning, the returning members of the Georgia charter were standing in the lot saying their goodbyes. Jackie was glad that she had decided to head to her new home early last night because the men were looking quite a bit worse for wear. She had spent a little time getting better acquainted with the new apartment that her and Tyler would share, which was much nicer than the crappy one in Macon. She kind of wished she was still sleeping safely in her room, as the tension between her and Dean was thick, even though they continued to stay on opposite ends of the parking lot.

Near the bikes, Dean was having an uncharacteristic heart-to-heart with Lakeside's sergeant at arms.

“I need a big favor.”

“Anything, brother.”

Dean ran his hands through his shaggy hair and sighed, still not sure that he was doing the right thing. “I need you to look after Jackie.”

“You know I will. Won't let her out of my sight.” Jagger clapped his friend on the shoulder and took in his ragged state. “You sure you want to leave your girl here?”
 

“No.” Dean didn't bother denying his thoughts to the man that understood him better than anyone. “I'm quite fucking sure it's a terrible, selfish idea. But I don't know what else to do.”

“Have you tried talking to Jackie?”

He was shaking his head before Jagger even finished his question. “I blew up at her. Told her exactly what I do for this club. We're not on speaking terms anymore because she saw me beat the shit out of some guy. I couldn't fix it even if I wanted to. Besides, why the hell does a girl like that need to be with a guy like me?”

“Yeah, well, you hooked her in somehow. You'll be back to get her in no time.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Cause we know what we're talking about. Are we done with the sappy shit?” Both men nodded, an unspoken vow of silence to keep the conversation between them, and went about saying their farewells to the rest of the group.

On the other side of the parking lot, Jackie was saying goodbye to the Macon bikers.

“It's been fun, cupcake.” TJ threw a large arm around her shoulders and crushed her to his chest. “I know you're going to miss this fine piece of ass. But you'll just have to move on and find somebody else as insanely hilarious and devilishly good-looking as I am. Good luck with that, though. I don't think anyone more amazing than me exists.”

Jackie laughed, but didn't let go of the man. “What am I going to do without you, TJ?”

“Live a slow, miserable life with no amusement whatsoever and just have a general sucky rest of your existence?” She glared playfully up at him before kissing his cheek and giving him a final squeeze. “You take care of yourself, Jack,” he said seriously as he released the girl.

“You too,” she replied, smiling up at the man that had welcomed her into his world with open arms the first time they met. He had never doubted her place in his life and had always been honest and true with her. In the biker way of life, that meant a lot.

She moved to Nash, teary-eyed before she had even reached the biker. He smiled as the woman hugged him fiercely, wrapping his own arms around her.

“I miss you already.”

Nash laughed and looked down at her. "I'll come visit, I promise." Jackie met his eyes and smiled up at him. "You've got my number," he said seriously, pulling back from her to make sure that she was hearing him. "You need anything, you call me." She nodded as he continued. “I'm serious. You need me, I'll be here in four hours. Probably three, if I speed.”

Jackie grinned at his mischievous look and hugged him once again. Nash was a bit stunned by how hard this was on him. In the time they had known each other, the woman had really grown on him. Even more so in the past few weeks. Life in Macon was going to be quite different without her and Tyler.

“I'll see you around, kid.”

After saying goodbye to Tyler, Nash crossed the lot and got on his bike, TJ and Dean quickly following his lead. Jackie was very excited to have escaped any sort of awkward farewell with the tattooed biker. It seemed he had no intentions of having a final conversation and that was just fine with her.

Just as the words had finished flitting across her mind, Dean met her eyes for what could be the last time. They stared at each other, neither one able to bring themselves to break the connection. The gaze seemed to say so much.

“I'm sorry it went down like this.”

“You deserve better.”

“I'll miss you.” 

“I love you.”

Tears filled Jackie's eyes once again as Dean nodded to her in farewell. The men shouted final goodbyes, then started their bikes and headed out. Tyler stepped up behind Jackie and wrapped his arms around her, knowing it was hard for both of them to watch their family ride away.

22

June 6
th

Lakeside, Florida

Three days.

That’s the amount of time she had spent in this small Florida town. Three days and she was already going crazy. Moving wasn’t new to Jackie, after all that’s what she and Tyler had done ever since they left Queens. The only difference was that, this time, she hadn’t wanted to leave. She had a family of sorts in Macon, a job, her own place. Her life had been looking up.

And here she was now, in a new town with no family except Tyler and no job. She had spent the last three days decorating the new apartment and looking for employment. Her search had proven futile, as there were no jobs for an artist and the local diners and restaurants had more waitresses than they needed.

All in all, her situation was looking pretty grim.

Currently, Jackie was dressed in an old shirt and was painting, trying not to think of her problems. Tyler was already fitting in with the charter and she was glad; he had been a bit sad about leaving Macon. Plus, Jackie was happy about seeing Johnny and Jagger, as the two bikers were decidedly great company, and the stories Jagger liked to tell never failed to make her laugh.

Letting a smile cross her face at the thought of the sergeant at arms, she brushed back a stubborn piece of hair that had fallen into her eyes. That’s how Jagger found her, covered in paint from head to toe, but wearing a content smile nonetheless. The knocking on her door had been a bit unexpected, but the company wasn’t unwanted.

“It’s open!”

Entering the apartment, Jagger raised one of his eyebrows at her appearance and leaned against the frame of the door to the living room.

“You know the front door is here so you can lock it, right sweetcheeks?”

Jackie rolled her eyes at him, but other than that, completely ignored his question. “Did you need something?”

“Nah, just came to see how you were settling in.” He examined her painting, whistling low. “You sure have that artsy thing goin' for ya. That looks nice.”

“Thanks.” She smiled at him, beaming. “It would be better if there was somewhere in Lakeside I could sell it, make some cash.” She eyed him curiously. “You wouldn’t happen to know of anywhere, would you?”

Jagger pointed at himself after her question, a disbelieving look on his face. “Who, me? Baby, I wouldn’t know an art gallery if it hit me in the face.” Complimenting the girl on her painting was his way of being nice, when in truth he didn't know shit about art. She could have been painting like a third grader for all he knew. “Benz might though. He likes this sort of…” He paused, searching for the right word. “…stuff.”

“Oh…” Jonathan Reece, affectionately known as Benz, was a tall man in his mid forties with blond hair and clear blue eyes. He was a war veteran and in spite of the demons he carried around with him from his time in uniform, he was still one of the nicest club members around. As surprising as it was that anyone in this merry band of men knew anything about art whatsoever, she could see how Benz was her man. His slightly more refined tastes and knowledge shined through his tough biker exterior. “Can you ask him?” Jackie wasn’t a master at the puppy-dog stare, but she gave it a try. She really did need the income.  

“Sure, I’ll ask for ya.” Chuckling, Jagger put on his glasses and made a move to exit the apartment. “Well, if you’re getting along fine, I’ll be going.”

“So soon?” Tyler hadn’t been around much the last three days and Jagger was the first familiar face she had seen.

Making his way to the door, he turned to look at her. “Club’s calling, sweetheart. We’ll talk more at dinner, yeah?”

“What dinner?”

“Prospect didn’t tell you?” Jackie shook her head and he frowned. “What an idiot.”

“Oh, be nice. He’s a bit… forgetful.”

“Forgetful my ass…” Amused at his grumbling, she laughed and joined him at the door. “Bianca’s having us all for dinner tonight. That includes you and the prospect.”

“Okay… what time?”

“Be there by six-thirty.” When she nodded, he took off his glasses and looked her in the eyes, a serious expression on his face. “Do not, by any circumstances, be late. The queen bee hates when people are late.” He cracked a smile when he saw her swallow and patted her on the shoulder. Turning around, Jagger made his way down the hallway of the apartment building, stopping half-way to look at her. “And bring something for dessert, okay babe? It'll put you in Bianca's good graces.”

And then he was gone, leaving Jackie to stare at the empty hallway in wonder. Bring something for dessert? Looking at her watch, she saw it was nearing one in the afternoon. Sighing, she began going through the list of things she had to do before this dinner that was sure to be interesting.

***

“Get your ass out of my kitchen, prospect, before I roast you and serve you for dinner!”

“But I’m not a prospect anymore!”

“You are if I say you are! Now get the hell out of here!”

Standing at the front door of the club president’s house, Jackie and Tyler exchanged worried glances. It was six twenty five, but the screaming that came from inside overshadowed Jackie’s relief of being on time.

After Jagger had left her, she had rushed to the store for groceries, managed to prepare enough desserts to satisfy a small army, and got all the paint out of her hair and off of her skin. And all of that before six o’clock, which had left enough time for her and Tyler to make their way to the charter president's family home. Jackie was excited for the dinner because she hoped to meet some people other than the bikers, some that were a bit more on her level.

Now though, listening to the war that seemed to be raging inside the house, she was having second thoughts. She glanced at the desserts she was holding and back up at the door. Feeding a small army, indeed.

“Finn!”

The female voice was heard again, full of authority. There was only one woman it could belong to and said woman scared Jackie to no end.

She spared another glance at Tyler and found him looking at her. She wasn’t the only one the queen got to, apparently.

“Run?” Tyler’s voice had a bit of a tremble in it. He was supposed to be a badass biker, and here he was cowering because a woman was yelling at someone else.

Biting her lip, Jackie nodded. “Run.”

Turning around, each of them made for their respective vehicles, Jackie quickly walking to her truck and Tyler almost running to get on his bike.

The loud roar of a motorcycle coming down the street could be heard, but they both paid it no mind. They were almost out of danger, a few moments separating them from freedom.

Luck wasn’t on their side, it seemed, as Tyler tripped on the driveway and fell flat on his face, which caused him to lose precious seconds where his escape was concerned. Jackie, too, didn’t manage to get away, as she had to drop the desserts in the passenger seat before she could get in the truck.

By the time the both of them were clear to go, the bike had arrived and the King it belonged to had parked in the driveway, cutting their escape short.

Jagger.

“Leaving so soon?”

The sergeant at arms’ cheerful voice floated over the noise that was coming from the house. He got off the bike and moved to Jackie’s truck, opening her door.

“C’mon, babe. We don’t bite… unless you want us to.” He wagged his eyebrows and waited for her to get the desserts and get out, closing the truck door. Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he led her inside the house and yelled at the young man still standing in the driveway. “Hurry up and get inside, prospect, we don’t have all day! And close the door behind you.”

Jogging after them, Tyler did what he was told. He watched Jagger steer Jackie into what he thought was the kitchen before being distracted by the rowdy group of bikers in the living room.

Leading Jackie into the kitchen, Jagger gave her a push in Bianca’s direction and went to the fridge, getting a beer.

“You better get your beer and get out of my kitchen, Jagger.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m out.” He sent a wink in Jackie’s direction and went to join his brothers in the other room.

Jackie looked around the kitchen and exhaled in relief when she saw she wasn’t going to be alone with Bianca. There were three other women preparing dinner and a little girl sitting at the kitchen table coloring.

Swallowing her nerves, Jackie made her way to the queen and offered her the food she had made. “Where should I put the dessert?”

Bianca eyed her for a second and then smiled. “Well, isn’t that nice of you. Put it in the fridge for later, sweetheart.”

She did as she was told and then stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

“Why don’t you get started on the salad, huh? There’s a bowl in the top cupboard.”

Getting the salad bowl, Jackie went to the counter and set to work, watching Bianca pick up some bread and set off for the next room. No sooner had that happened when a woman on her right leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially.

“Intimidating, isn’t she?” She was smiling and had a glow about her, which Jackie attributed to the fact that she was heavily pregnant. Wasn’t that what people said about pregnant women? That they were glowing? “I’m Lana. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Jackie.” Shaking Lana’s hand, she smiled in her direction. “Believe me, the pleasure is all mine.”

Lana laughed, a carefree sound that gave away how happy she was. “Yeah, Linc told me about you. It must be tough moving like that and not knowing anyone.”

Jackie wracked her brain quickly, trying to put a face to the name she was hearing, only vaguely remembering the large, bald man she had met briefly on her first day in town and assuming it was her significant other. “Eh, I’m used to it. Moved a lot the past few years.”

“Well then. I hope you find your home in Lakeside. It’s rather nice once you settle in.” Looking around the room, Lana started rattling off the names of the other women. “That’s Violet, Johnny's current fling, and the one by the sink is Carol, Benz’s wife.” Whispering once more, Lana smiled with amusement. “His third wife.”

“Third?” Jackie mouthed the words carefully, making sure that Carol couldn’t see her.

The other woman laughed at the disbelief on her face. “The little girl over there is Addison, my daughter.”

That was a bit odd to Jackie, as Lana didn’t look much older than her. She kept that to herself though. It was obvious how much the other woman loved her child, how much she loved being a mother. Jackie hoped one day she’d be like her, happy and glowing, looking at her child with love, and even wanting another.

Just when Jackie was about to respond, Bianca came back in the kitchen and picked up the main course, ushering all of them to the dining room.

“Let’s not keep the guys waiting. You know boys and their food.” The queen rolled her eyes, taking her place to the right of her husband.

Sitting next to Tyler, Jackie glanced at him, noting the goofy smile on his face. Their escape attempt earlier seemed silly now. She had to admit, she had felt a bit awkward at the beginning, but those feelings were gone quickly, chased away by Lana’s acceptance and friendly attitude. The other woman had put her at ease and Jackie was thankful. Tyler, too, looked happy and peaceful. He looked like he belonged at that table and, judging by his laughter, Jackie guessed that he felt it too.