His Road Dog (Patches: Tarkio MC Book 1), page 11
She slid off him and sat up on her knees. "What?"
"You're leaving town. Sooner rather than later." He sat up and got to his feet.
She stared as he walked back out to the deck. Through the window, he picked up his leather vest. Not understanding what had happened, she couldn't even move to go after him.
Was what they had together so completely off the rail that he wanted her gone completely from his life?
Chapter 20
Priest
NICOLE WALKED INTO the bedroom long after Priest had taken a shower, got dressed, and checked in with Curley to make sure Tarkio finished the job of burying Hamilton and Jones. He took the metal box out of the closet and proceeded to refill the clip in his pistol.
She stayed behind him. "What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to take you to the clubhouse." He looked over his shoulder, took in the clothes she'd put on. "Ready?"
"You can take me to my motel room."
"I will after we get you a car lined up." He put the box back, slipped the weapon into his vest pocket, and straightened. "I'll give you cash at the clubhouse. That will keep you going for a couple months."
"Please, stop for a second and talk to me." She put her hand on his arm. "What's going on?"
"It's not safe here." He twined his finger around a strand of her hair and caressed the curl with his thumb. "You're tangled up in Guthrie's murder. Until I can make it safe for you to return to Missoula, we need to find a place for you to go."
"I didn't have anything to do with Roy—"
"I know. The police know. In fact, you're not even a suspect anymore. I got word that you're free to leave Missoula."
"How did you hear that? Nobody from the police station called me."
"They called me."
"Priest." She crossed her arms. "You're taking over my life."
"No, I'm saving your life. Trust me. There's a difference." He kissed her, and she refused to kiss him back. "Let's get a move on."
He walked past her and waited at the door of the bedroom for her.
"I don't like guns." She pivoted. "Carrying one only gives you an excuse to take someone's life. No one's life is less than your own."
"In your world. Not in mine," he said.
He'd rather she left, unburdened with the trouble surrounding her than change because someone else stole her freedom and security.
He could take care of the problem surrounding her, but it would take time. As of now, he had no clue what kind of power Coveck had backing him. He couldn't storm into the casino or raid his private residency if he had a bigger stronghold around him than Tarkio was prepared for. He also needed to inform his members of the new findings.
But first, he wanted to make sure Nicole was safe.
"I don't want to leave. I have a job."
"This can't be helped, Nicole."
"I don't understand. You're just going to...kick me out of your life and send me away as if you own all of Missoula?" She rubbed her forehead. "No. You can't do that. You don't have any say-so about what I do, Priest. That's just crazy talk. It's like me telling you how to run your motorcycle club."
"It's not the same."
He motioned for her to follow and walked out to the entryway. She obviously was going to headbutt him each step because he waited exactly ninety seconds before she rounded the corner.
"Take me to the motel, please." She raised her brows. "We're done here."
"We're not done."
"Yeah, we are." Her eyes lost their shine. "Sex is one thing, but what I get from you when we aren't naked isn't worth it to me."
"Bullshit." He opened the door. "Let's go."
She sighed. "To the motel, Michael?"
"Can't do that." It was a standoff, and she was an independent woman, used to living on her own, going by her rules. Until now, that had worked for her. But right now, she needed someone to protect her, and the hell if he was going to let someone else be responsible for her life or force her to handle it on her own. "You have a man, a dangerous man, who wants you in his stable of women in the casino. He plans to sell your pussy, babe. He wants you bad enough; he killed Guthrie to get to you."
She stared at him, unresponsive to the news. He squeezed the handle of the door, not liking where his mind went if, by chance, Coveck got his hands on her.
"Do you understand the kind of danger you're in?" he asked.
"He wants to whore me out? Like a prostitute?" She frowned. "For money?"
"That, and I suspect he wants to use you himself until he's tired of you."
She pressed her hand to her stomach. "Why would he—?"
"Because Guthrie was the man who brought him the girls, and he did that to try and pay his debt off. He'd already handed Coveck two high-priced vehicles trying to keep him away from you, but it was only a matter of time before Roy handed you to him." He went to her, clasping her shoulders and forcing her to look up. "I'm not going to let him get away with what he's doing, to you or the other women. I want you away from here, somewhere safe, so I can concentrate on Coveck."
Her neck straightened. "Coveck? Mark Coveck?"
"You've met him?"
She grabbed onto Priest's vest. "I've...I went to dinner a few times with Roy and him at the casino."
He grunted. There were other times that her life could've been snuffed out without her even knowing. She was lucky to be alive and free from Guthrie and Coveck.
She cuddled against his chest, holding him tightly. "The police never said anything to me when Roy was murdered."
A shiver rolled through her. He held her tighter.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Coveck has the police on his side." He stroked her back. "That's why it's important for you to get out of here. I'll get you a car, give you some money, and keep driving until you feel safe. Pick a nice hotel to stay in, and I'll let you know when it's safe to come back to Missoula."
"I feel like throwing up," she mumbled. "This is sick."
"Let's get going, so I can make sure you're safe."
She inhaled deeply. "Those two men you asked about, Jones and Hamilton? They work for Mark Coveck?"
"Yeah, babe."
"I can't believe this," she mumbled, letting her chin fall to her chest. "You're scaring me."
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
She raised her head. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because you shouldn't be involved."
"Are you involved? Is that how you know everything that is happening?" Her brows lowered, and she gazed at his vest.
"I am now."
"Why?"
"That's a question you probably don't want an answer to."
She pressed her lips together. He wasn't going to complicate things. He enjoyed what they'd had together. It wasn't only the sex. He could find that anywhere. Nicole was different. A kinder, gentler soul than him. Yet growing up on a commune left her openminded and accepting of his lifestyle. He was selfish enough to want to keep her in his life.
But the activities Tarkio Motorcycle Club participated in would destroy any chance of spending more time with Nicole. She wouldn't condone what he'd done that morning at Steel Mechanics, even if it was to save her.
"I want to go home. I'll stay with my parents." She straightened her shoulders. "I'll be safe there."
He kissed her forehead. "Let's go and get you ready to leave for California."
She slipped her hand into his. He walked her out to his motorcycle. Today could end up being the last time he would ever be with her. The thought unsettled him.
All the way to the clubhouse, he tried to figure out a way to take away the threat and keep her in his life, and there were no better answers. She needed to leave.
Chapter 21
Nicole
THE GAS GAUGE HIT THE halfway line. Nicole looked in the rearview mirror. Priest, plus six Tarkio members, followed her.
In five minutes, she'd pull off the highway and need to tell Priest she couldn't allow him to keep watching over her. She'd need to tell him goodbye.
Outsiders weren't allowed at the commune without prior approval, and everything had happened so fast, she hadn't had time to warn her parents she was coming home.
As it was, they wouldn't even know it was her arriving. She drove a small Honda that belonged to a Tarkio member named Slick, who she hadn't even met. It was a loaner car that had no end date. Priest had told her not to worry about returning the car. If it were needed, he or another member would come and pick it up. And she knew that wouldn't happen.
The whole deal left her sad. It was too final for her.
She'd wanted Priest to promise to see her again. While it was her idea to come home, it seemed far away from Missoula. They were two worlds apart, and once she was back at the commune, the chance of them seeing each other again was slim to none.
Last night at the motel room in Oregon where they'd spent the night, Priest hadn't even stayed with her. Instead, he chose to stay outside on the streets, scoping out the area, and making sure she was safe before they made the rest of the long trip.
The independence she'd clung to on her own was all falling away. Yesterday, she'd called Kristi and told her she was quitting, leaving her to contact her clients. The way she'd gone about leaving upset her stomach. She'd become friends with Kristi and Jason.
She respected Kristi as a friend and a boss. The way she left was unfair to everyone.
She looked behind her again, then put on her blinker. The time had come, and she had no idea if Priest would accept her reasons for going on the rest of the way by herself or not. He knew how she lived, but there was more to her family and her life on the commune.
Exiting the highway, she looked for the 'Park & Ride' lot that'd been there when she'd left home when she was eighteen years old. Grateful the area had remained unchanged; she pulled off into the gravel patch, came to a stop, and shut off the engine. Taking a deep breath, she got out of the car.
Priest led the others toward her. She soaked in the sight of him, riding his Harley. To everyone, he was formidable. To her, he was deep, passionate, and the picture of a leader. He wouldn't be president of a motorcycle club if he were anything less.
His gaze stayed on her, concerned, and questioning. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and lack of sleep, knowing she was going to disappoint him. He could even believe she was undermining his position by leaving because he'd sworn to protect her.
For someone who had no reason to help her, he'd played his hand. Their relationship hadn't gone past sleeping together, yet she sensed him needing her. He gave off an aura when they were alone. One that matched her own.
They'd met out of the blue, and he'd been just as surprised as her at the connection they'd made. His feelings ran deep.
He could deny it, but she'd seen it. She'd felt it. She'd wanted it.
Priest got off his motorcycle. "What's wrong?"
She approached him, looking at the others observing her. "Can you walk with me?"
He stepped away. She slipped her hand into his, wishing that things could be different and scared to death that the seriousness of the situation was exactly like Priest had told her. She'd heard of women getting stolen and put into sex rings. The females were never heard from again, and their families mourned. Though she'd never seen that herself, she believed Priest when he told her.
When she'd set out to discover life on her own, she certainly never expected to encounter someone who would endanger her life. She'd always trusted her intuitions about others. Roy had seemed trustworthy and kind. She'd enjoyed her time with him—mainly because he paid her attention and catered to all her whimsical ideas to go out dancing and have fun.
Turned out, she was terribly wrong about him.
She wanted nothing to do with the kind of life Roy had lived, and while she hated to let Priest go, she also had a strong yearning to run back home and let her parents and the community she was raised in shelter her.
Stopping, she turned and brought Priest's hand up to her chest, holding him close. "I need to go the rest of the way home alone."
His eyes narrowed. She couldn't look at the flash of hurt and hugged him. "Thank you for everything you've done."
"Nicole." He cupped her face and pulled her head off his chest. "I'm not going to let you go alone unless I know you're going to be safe, and you'll reach your parents."
"It'll only take me twenty minutes of driving by myself to reach them from here." She looked to the left. "They don't want outsiders snooping around the commune, and they don't know you. I had no way to prepare them for me returning."
"Babe."
She raised her head, her heart catching. No matter how much she wanted him to stay, she had to let him go. "I'm going to miss you, Michael. More than you'll ever know."
His gaze intensified, and the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. A myriad of emotions flooded her. She was thankful he never fought her the last step. He'd given her that, and she knew it was hard for him. He was a dominating man who liked to have control over every aspect of his life, including her.
But she'd seen how he'd given her the free will to control her reactions to him whenever they had sex. And he was giving it to her now by stepping back and letting her have her goodbye. She hadn't realized that before as she'd tried to figure him out. Standing in front of him now, everything was crystal clear to her.
She stretched to her tiptoes and turned her lips skyward. He met her halfway, capturing her mouth.
Devouring her, he took the kiss. She clung to him, taking everything he'd given her. Each second that passed weakened her resolve to leave him.
He pulled back, went forward again to her, and with closed lips, kissed her hard before straightening. "You've got my phone number."
Her throat spasmed, and she nodded. He'd already told her that if she needed help, to call him. Since he knew there was no phone at her parents, he had never asked for her number.
Once she left, she'd truly be gone. Even if he tried to look for her, he'd never find her.
He ran his hand down his beard. "We'll stick around for a half-hour in case you need us."
She kissed him again. "Goodbye, Michael."
She walked away, not looking at the bikers waiting for their president. Inside the car, her hands shook. She had to try and start the car twice before the engine turned over, and she could put the gear in Drive.
Refusing to look back because she was afraid of falling apart and changing her mind about leaving him, she kept driving. She took the road deep into the Northern California forest automatically, leaving the nearest small town behind. Once her tires hit gravel, she started looking for signs that someone was near.
She made it clear to the dirt road. From all appearances, it looked like a track for off-roaders. But it was closely guarded. Those who unknowingly took the unmarked path would be turned around by men who forbid them entrance.
Rounding a corner, she spotted the familiar markings on the cedar tree. A wave of homesickness swept through her, and she stopped. Searching the undergrowth of the forest, she caught sight of a man stepping out onto the road.
Peter, a man a few years older than her, walked toward her holding a shotgun. She rolled down the window and waved. She was home.
Chapter 22
Priest
TARKIO MEMBERS, GATHERED outside the clubhouse, parted at the sight of Priest. He stormed in the front door, spotted Ringtail, and charged, picking up a chair on his way across the room.
Frank and Rick stepped to the side. He brought the chair up and swung out, crashing the piece of furniture across Ringtail's back, knocking him down to the floor.
Ringtail grunted on landing, and his body arched. "What the fuck, man?"
Priest let go of the broken wood, grabbed Ringtail, and hauled him to his feet, throwing him against the wall. "Do you have any fucking clue what you've done?"
"Jesus, Prez. I'm sorry." Ringtail dropped his fisted hands.
Priest swung, landing a punch to his MC brother's jaw. "I should chain your sorry ass up."
Ringtail hung his head. Priest turned to the others present and ordered them into the meeting room. One Tarkio member had fucked up, and that meant it affected each one of them and wouldn't be tolerated.
He went to the room and stood at the head of the table. The others filed inside. When the door shut, Priest looked around at all the faces.
He was running on empty. Rage fueled him forward each day.
Curley, as vice president, sat to his right. Roddy sat to his left. Paco, Rick, Frank, Roddy, Wyatt surrounded the table. Priest held his tongue, looking over the small group. It would do no good to let his frustrations out on those who could help him.
His target on Coveck had become personal.
He blamed the man for not only abusing the women he kept powerless and working for him but for forcing him to send Nicole away. The more days that went by not knowing how she was doing, if she was safe, or if she needed him, the more his control slipped.
Three weeks of trailing Coveck around Missoula, infiltrating the casino with Tarkio's associates and discovering Guthrie's death hadn't slowed the process of gaining women for Coveck's stable, Tarkio could've ended it all tonight.
But Ringtail had fucked up. Coveck had slipped past Tarkio's scout.
"I want more men out there. Bring in two more crews." Priest leaned over and gripped the back of the chair. "Surround the Casino and Coveck's house. I'm going inside."
"Kent made contact an hour ago. He doesn't believe Coveck's going home. It's been twenty-four hours since he spotted him and two of his workers carrying boxes out of the house. Kent believes Coveck went underground." Curley leaned forward. "I'm not talking in hiding; Kent thinks he's using one of the abandoned mines in the hillside."
"Fuck," muttered Priest. "It'd be impossible if that's true."
"Just keep it in mind as you plan." Curley looked at a small notebook in front of him. "Coveck will show up at the casino regardless of where he's hiding. He won't leave the women he's got alone for too long, or he'll lose them. We might not have any choice but to wait him out."
