The Devil's Rebel, page 4
Then my phone starts buzzing with messages from Warren.
Loser: We haven’t been broken up a week and your’e already lining up replacements. Guess I really meant a lot to you, huh?
Me: Wow, Warren. You remember how to text me?
Loser: Funny. What are you doing in Kentucky?
Me: Why do you care?
Loser: I love you, Sara.
Me: Yeah. Sure. Okay.
Loser: For real though, why you there?
Harley grabs my phone. Her nose scrunches up when she sees I am talking to my ex.
“No, just no. You’re going to ignore this jerk and Friday after the game, I will introduce you to a good dude. Someone you can make Warren the loser jealous of.”
I shake my head but agree in the end.
The next day I am at the viewing for my grandma at the funeral home. Again, I feel as though I don’t belong, but I try to push through it. I know if I ask to leave it will upset my folks. Not that they would notice if I snuck out. They are so occupied with talking to all their old friends. Thank God, I have Harley, but she has people here too. Even some of her squad is here. I guess our grandma bought their uniforms or something.
Romeo is standing off to the side drinking the free coffee. Just like the last time we were in Drag Creek, the man can’t keep his eyes off my mom and I can’t help but wonder if there was once something between them. Which would be gross because he is her father-in-law. Feeling like as much of an outcast as he appears right now, I make my way over to him.
“Hey, grandpa.” I grin at him.
“What did I tell ye, kid?” He sounds annoyed, but I detect a smile behind his foam cup.
“Whatever. You love my mom, don’t you?”
He nearly chokes as coffee dribbles down his chin.
“You don’t have to answer, but I see the way you look at her.”
A thick grunt leaves his throat and he says, “I care about her is all.”
“If you say so.” I roll my eyes and he tosses his drink in the trash.
“Listen, word of advice. Nothing good comes from digging up the past. Don’t be asking questions that will upset your folks.”
Just then my dad scans the crowd and when he sees who I am in the company of his nostrils flare.
My mother sees the change in my father, placing a hand to his chest, shaking her head and whispering in his ear.
“I mean this in the nicest way possible. Stay the fuck away from me, kid, or you’re gonna stir up a lot of shit.” With that he walks away without looking back. Tears sting in the corner of my eyes. He’s my grandfather. I should be allowed to talk to him if I want to.
My father stalks toward me as I bite back the tears of rejection.
“Let’s go, Sara. Now,” he seethes. He grabs me by the wrist firmly and drags me into a private office.
“You stay the fuck away from that man. Do you hear me!?” He roars in my face so loudly that everyone has to be able to hear him. It’s so embarrassing. Tears sting the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill down my face at any moment.
“He’s your father. My grandfather. I can talk to him if I want to.”
My father is so angry with me, a vein pops out on his forehead as he grinds his teeth. “You will do as you are told!”
“Why am I even here? I didn’t even know your mom. She was never a grandma to me. You and mom made damn sure I never knew my family. And the minute I try to get to know my grandpa you act like a crazy person. I don’t know what happened between him and mom, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“Did he say something, or did she?” He steps toward me and the rage that is burning in his eyes makes me afraid of him for the first time in my life. “Answer me Goddamn it,” he growls, spit flying and hitting my cheek.
“No one said anything. I—”
I don’t get another word out before my Uncle, Rebel, storms in followed by my other grandpa, Grim.
“Sara, go outside your brother is gonna take you back to my place,” he barks at me.
Grim nods at me and I rush out the doors as fast as possible.
Chapter 6
Karly
MY HUSBAND STIFFENS next to me, so I look to see what has stolen his attention and gotten such a rise out of him as his chest heaves. My eyes land on our daughter, Sara, conversing with Romeo, her grandfather. For normal families this would never be an issue, but considering our shared past, Sara has chosen the wrong person to stand next to. Of course, it isn’t her fault, she doesn’t know that I cheated on her father with him. She doesn’t know that before she was born I was in a relationship with Romeo. Even though he was the first man I slept with I don’t love him. I care about that man but that is as far as it goes. I don’t even acknowledge him out of respect for Nash. I never thought to worry about him having a relationship with Sara.
Rightfully, she is his granddaughter, and I have no problem with her getting to know him, but I know my husband does.
As much as he has let go, there is a big part of him that will always hate the man who gave him life. Romeo was never in his life as a father, they never had that bond. Nash grew up believing Slim Black was his father, and by the time he found out the truth, there was already too much bad blood between them thanks to me. I’d like to say if I could go back and do things differently that I would, but I can’t say that because then I might not be with my husband, the man I love more than anything today.
I know he’s hurting over the loss of his mother, we all are in our own way. Foxie Roxie was one hell of a woman and the only true mother I ever really knew.
With a hand to his chest trying to calm him, I say, “Nash, honey, this isn’t the time or place. Your mom wouldn’t want this. Not today.”
He growls, and I know there is no stopping him. I can only hope he doesn’t damage his relationship with Sara. She has always been a daddy’s girl and is rarely on the receiving end of his temper.
When I see him dragging her into an office, I know it’s time to get her out of here. I know she feels uncomfortable surrounded by so many strangers anyway. Sara didn’t grow up here. All she knows is the life and friends we have made in California. Part of me hates that she doesn’t know our family, but a bigger part of me knows that leaving and raising her and Cole away from here was the right thing to do. Even though my son ended up here anyway, he is like his father though and can handle himself. Sara is a tough kid too, but I never want this life for her. I never wanted it to touch her, but her brother had other plans.
Sure, things have worked out in the end. My son is living his life the way he wants to and is happy. That is all I could ever really wish for him. The biker life is in his blood. Since he was a young boy he wanted to ride. I can only hope that our brief time here doesn’t give Sara a taste for it, because once you are in the life there is rarely ever any going back.
“Cole, baby. I need you to drive your sister back to Rebel’s place.” I interrupt as he is speaking with my father and his uncle.
“Sure, just let me tell Morgan.” I nod, and my dad and Rebel make for the hall when the shouting starts travelling into the viewing room.
“Hey, Karly. That’s what you go by now, right? I’m not sure what to call you.” Sunshine, my former stepmother greets me with a nervous embrace, kissing me on the cheek.
I nod. “Sunshine. It’s good to see you.” We never had the greatest relationship, but I am happy to see her here. “You here with Romeo?” I ask, even though I know it is none of my business. Lil Bit, Rebel’s wife told me how they ended up together years ago, but the way I hear it now they aren’t together anymore. I never would have thought they would get together considering she was married to my father, but they did.
Her mouth tightens. “No,” she answers, shaking her head. “We’ve been over for years. I’m here for your father to show my support. Despite all that transpired between us I care about that man more than I should.”
“I’m glad you’re here. He seems to be taking it well, but we both know he has never been good with his emotions.”
“That’s for sure,” she agrees. “You want to sit? I’d love to catch up.”
I see Cole waving as he follows his sister out the door.
“That’d be great.”
We go over to a quiet corner where I tell her all about Sara and she tells me about her son, Patrick and her grandkid. Patrick is married to Romeo’s daughter, Dawn. Our family tree is so damn fucked up.
I look over to the casket as Sunshine talks. Foxie looks so at peace. I haven’t been able to bring myself to actually go up to the casket. That makes this all too real and I wish it were all a bad dream.
“You know, I really am sorry about Foxie. She was never my favorite person, but she loved your father. I think she loved him better than anyone ever could. I really hate this for him, but I am so glad you are here. Your father loves you so much. I only wish your sister was here. I miss her so much.”
“Me too,” I tell her softly, wiping at my eyes. God, I miss Rumor. What happened to her is too cruel for words. An image of her hanging in that damn tree flashes in my mind. Taking a deep breath, I fight back my grief. Today isn’t about her. I’m here for the woman who raised me.
I say a brief goodbye to Sunshine and make my way to the casket, joining my husband as he pays his respects to his mom.
Placing a hand on his back, I lean into him. “You okay?”
“No,” he tells me honestly. “I should have fuckin’ been here.”
“Honey, you didn’t know. I wish I could dial back time and make this right for you. I’m sorry you weren’t here, but you know had you been it wouldn’t have changed things. Her cancer was highly invasive.”
“Don’t. Don’t feed me that bullshit. I don’t want to hear it. Not today, Karly.”
“You think that I don’t wish I was here for her. You think you’re the only one who lost her? We all lost her. Beating ourselves up won’t bring her back.”
He shrugs my hand away and walks off. Leaving me standing at the casket alone. Nash needs time to accept that she’s gone. Gazing down at Foxie, she appears rested but much older than I remember her. In my heart and mind, she looks the same as she did when I gave up this life to start over with her son. We had our second chance and I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stand in the way of our happily ever after.
It hasn’t been easy, but I know we did the best thing we could for our children.
Instead of going after my husband I go in search of my father instead.
“Hey, Sunshine is here,” I inform him.
“Yeah we spoke. It was sweet of her to come. Look, I got something I need to tell ye. In private.” He sounds so serious and the expression on his face has me worried. My father has never been a happy go lucky joyful man. However, the deep lines on his forehead and the darkness swirling in his eyes tells me this is something bad. Real bad.
“Sure, where?”
“Follow me,” he grunts.
There’s a small chapel room off to itself by the main office of the parlor.
“Look, I have always been honest with ye. I did something that I’m not sure how ye will feel about it, but it is something important. Something that’s been haunting me for years. I finally know who killed yer mother.”
“What,” I whisper, shocked. My father has dedicated most of his life to avenging my mother’s murder. Hell, most of my childhood he was on the road trying to find my half-sister because he made a promise to our mother. A promise he kept. “When? How?” I have so many questions.
“I think ye had better sit down for this,” he suggests guiding me to the pew in the back.
Taking a seat, I prepare myself. I don’t know who was responsible, but I have a hunch whoever it was its going to hurt me deeply.
“Okay.” I let out a breath and close my eyes.
“The day Foxie died she insisted on telling me something. Something she needed to get off her chest.”
I gasp. If he tells me she had any part in my mother’s death I don’t know what I will do.
“The night your mother died, Foxie and her had words and she stabbed her in the stomach. That goddamned bitch nearly took ye away from me. She took yer mother away from us, so I killed her,” he confesses.
“What?” I screech as tears fall steady as rain down my cheeks.
“I killed her for Gypsy. I killed her for you. I killed her and it fucking should have felt good but...” He doesn’t get to finish. My husband jumps up from the first pew and drills my father’s stoic face with his fist repeatedly as I scream for him to stop.
“You Goddamned bastard! I will kill you for this. I will end you, old man. You fucked up. Fuck!” Nash rages, losing it completely.
Rebel and a few other club members rush in and pull Nash off my father. He didn’t even fight back. It was almost as if he knew he was here and wanted him to attack him, kill him even.
Chapter 7
Romeo
I COULDN’T TAKE BEING at the funeral home. Striker and Baby being here stirs up too many Goddamned emotions. Every time I think I have let go of the past it shows up and smears my face in the shit. Fucking Baby still looks as good as she did when we were together. My granddaughter keeps trying to talk to me and she is just as pretty. My son is gonna have his hands full if he doesn’t already.
When Sunshine walked in I knew it was time to go. We aren’t on good terms. She wanted to get back together the last time I saw her at our grandbaby’s birthday party. I told her I didn’t think that was a good idea. We had a good run, but I wasn’t looking to start that shit up again. She’s a beautiful woman but she was never meant to be mine. I’ll die a bachelor. One woman has had my heart since she was sixteen.
I keep telling myself I am past all that shit. I damn sure know she is. She won’t even look at me. It damn near kills me too. So, I head to the Roadhouse for a much needed fuckin’ drink.
At the bar, sitting by myself I don’t need anyone but my good friend, whiskey. Can’t believe fucking Foxie is gone. The mother of my first born. I never loved her, but she was one helluva bad biker bitch. I’m sorry she’s gone. Crazy bitch was the only one who could handle Grim’s psychotic ass.
He’s been so numb since he announced to the club that she had passed away. Something ain’t right with the brother but he’ll talk when he is ready. As I sit at the bar rolling a joint I look around the nearly empty clubhouse thinking about life. What a fucked up mess I made outta mine. I shake my head and lick the paper before lighting up.
“Ye gonna share, cocksucker,” Grim says gruffly as he pulls up the stool next to mine.
“The fuck ye doin here? Shouldn’t you be back at the service?”
When I look at my oldest friend his face is swollen and bloodied.
“Christ, brother. Gonna take a lot more than this puff puff pass to make ye feel better. You’ve always been an ugly fucker, but whoever got a hold of ye did one helluva number.”
“Striker,” he coughs out, spitting blood onto the floor.
“The fuck happened? He looked like he wanted to tear my head off before I left. Not yours,” I tell him, passing him the liquor bottle.
He takes a hard swig and stares at his feet. “He overheard something I was sharing with my daughter. Foxie didn’t die in her sleep. I killed her. Bitch deserved it though. She confessed she was the one who stabbed Gypsy.”
“Well Goddamn. She told ye for a fact?” I stare at the floor too and take a long drag from the joint before passing it back. “How’d Baby handle it?”
Grim rolls his shoulders with a shrug, his face grimacing with the motion. We ain’t as young as we used to be. My son packs one helluva punch. It’s how he got his name. Little fucker loved to punch people when he was just knee high to a grasshopper. Little shit punched me in the nuts and nearly dropped me to my knees more times than I’d like to admit.
I don’t need to ask how my boy took the news.
“Where is he now?” I don’t know why I am asking. It isn’t like he’ll want to talk to me, but I feel like I should be here for him just the same. Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll shoot my ass. Put me out of my misery. Getting old fucking sucks. I can’t ride like used to. My damn knees kill me. Then a thought hits me. Grim wanted him to know. Wanted to set him off. “You wanted him to kill you. Didn’t you? Dumb motherfucker. You ain’t getting out of this life that easy, brother.”
I shake my head.
The Roadhouse doors fly open and in walks the one woman I wish I could stop thinking about.
As soon as those eyes that burn like wildfire meet mine, she averts them to her old man.
“Wanna toke,” Grim offers the joint to her.
Her head shakes slightly. “Why did you do that? You knew he was in the chapel, didn’t you? You want to ruin my marriage by forcing my husband to kill you! Old fool.” With trembling hands, she grabs the bottle of whiskey Grim and I have been sharing and downs the rest of it. Fuck. This is gonna be a long fuckin night.
“Where’s my son-in-law?”
“He’s still at the funeral home with Rebel. Why?”
“I need to go finish our conversation. Alone.”
“Don’t think that is a good idea, brother. I’ll go if you want me to.”
“No,” Grim grunts.
“Dad, Romeo is right. Nash isn’t going to want to talk to you. He’ll kill you.”
“Well, he’s gonna listen. I got shit to say.” With that he makes to leave.
“Aren’t you going to stop him?”
“Like I could,” I tell her, and she knows it’s true. Her father is one stubborn bastard.
Sara
“You sure you don’t wanna come home with me?” My brother questions before I get out of his truck.
“Thanks, but I like hanging out with Harley. No offence to you and Morgan, but I don’t wanna hang with an old married couple or hear you guys do it.” I grin as she shakes his head at me.
“You really shouldn’t piss dad off like that, Sara. There is a lot you don’t know about this world. It isn’t my place to tell you and I don’t want you to think badly of mom, but before you were born. When I was a baby really, mom had an affair with Romeo.”
