Bucking Tradition, page 3
“I’m pretty sure you’ll have to get in line behind me,” Luna muttered around a mouthful of sandwich. “I don’t hit Bristol’s way, but this sandwich could make a monk look a different way.”
I took a bite of the sandwich and instantly agreed with Luna. “Oh, shit,” I mumbled. “This is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
“Dude,” Pie laughed. “I know exactly what you mean. Everything Bristol makes is better than the last thing she made.”
Luna and I shoved our faces full while Bristol emptied the rest of her bag in the corner, and Pie dragged in a cooler.
“You did hear that I can very possibly go home today, right?” Luna asked.
Bristol waved her hand at Luna. “You’re not going anywhere today. I broke my arm when I was seventeen, and the swelling didn’t go down for four days.”
“You had to sit in the hospital for four days?” Pie asked.
Bristol shook her head. “No. My mom kept me at home until the swelling went down and then took me to the doctor. She knew what they were going to tell her, so she waited for the swelling to do down.”
“Was your mom a nurse or something?” I asked.
“Or something,” Bristol mumbled. “And you know, if you do go home today, I can just take this to the clubhouse, or you can take it home with you, so you don’t have to cook.” Bristol clicked her tongue. “None of this is going to go to waste.”
My phone buzzed, and I balled up the empty foil from the sandwich. “Well, I volunteer as tribute if you need someone to take extras home.” I pulled out my phone and swiped on the message from Bear.
I’m here, fucker.
I chuckled and tapped out my response. About time. Though it really had only been less than twenty-four hours since I had asked Bear for his help.
“It’s a party in here, huh?” King walked into the room with Meg at his side.
“I feel like this is a joke in the making. What do you get with two bikers and a cop in a room together?” Meg joked.
“Add in a bounty hunter and make it even more entertaining.” I shoved my phone in my pocket and stood.
“Come again?” Lo growled. “Did you just say bounty hunter?”
“I don’t know if I packed enough food for a bounty hunter,” Bristol mumbled. She looked down at the empty cooler and frowned.
“What do you need a bounty hunter for?” Pie asked.
“Because Ransom can’t seem to do his job, so he had to call in for reinforcements,” Luna sang.
Pie raised his shoulders and quirked the corner of his mouth. “I mean, that does sound right.”
It was the truth, but whenever Luna said it, it sounded like I was incompetent, when in reality, there was nothing wrong with me needing assistance. Hell, I was surprised that the chief hadn’t already called in the big guns to help find the serial killer.
“Whatever it takes to catch this psychopath, yeah?” Meg chirped. “I mean, if this bounty hunter can find this guy, I’m all for it.”
At least I had Meg backing me.
“You shouldn’t feel bad about not being able to do your job, Detective Ransom.” Meg smiled wide. “We all know you tried your best.”
And there went the feeling of Meg having my back.
Pie scoffed, and King shook his head.
“Damn,” Luna laughed. “You had me thinking that you were all about Ransom for a second, Meg.”
“Then BAM! You can’t do your job.” Pie doubled over laughing and rested his hands on his knees. “That was classic.”
Meg smirked. “I mean, I didn’t mean to say that, but I did so I’m going to own it.” She pointed her finger at me. “But just know we know that you really tried.”
And now I felt like a five-year-old getting a pat on the head even though I had fucked up. “Bear is just helping. This is still my investigation.”
“Right, right,” Bristol muttered. “You are totally still in control.”
I didn’t even know this chick and she was roasting me. She really did belong to the Devil’s Knights. She fit right in.
I needed to get out of here before I had zero confidence left. “I’ll just be outside for a while if you need me.”
Meg frowned and tipped her head to the side. “You really need to get out of here because I could roast you so hard right now.” She shooed her hands at me. “Run along, little detective.”
King choked on his laugh, and Pie tipped his head back to look at the ceiling.
“This is why you’re the OG ol’ lady,” Pie wheezed.
“Shoo, shoo,” Meg sang.
“I’ll catch up with you before we leave,” King called to me. At least he wasn’t treating me like I was incompetent. “Or if you’d rather me just talk to Bear, that will be fine.”
I growled. “I am in charge.” I strutted out of the room and pulled the door shut behind me.
And that was the way it was going to stay.
I was in charge, and I was going to be the one to figure out who was stalking and killing the women of Sultry Knights.
You could bet your last dollar on that.
Chapter Four
Luna
“YOU THINK HE’S GOING to go to the bathroom to cry before he finds his friend?” Pie chuckled.
“He really did make that easy for you guys to give him crap,” Bristol muttered. “That is why I’m careful of what I say around you guys because you’re all just waiting to roast someone.”
Meg clutched her hand to her chest. “I think I might be slightly offended by that, Bristol. I can’t help it that my mind is so sharp that I can easily mentally spar with anyone.”
“As long as the person brings their smarts to the fight,” King muttered.
Meg reached up and cradled King’s cheek. “That is the truth, handsome.”
The door swung open, and Dad stood there. “Is there a reason why the guy who said he was going to keep an eye on you is headed in the opposite direction of you?” he barked.
“Because King and Pie are here?” I shot back. I knew it was a running joke about Ransom not being able to do his job, but he did deserve a lot of credit. I mean, he did pretty much save my life yesterday. God knows what would have happened if I would have gotten out of the van and fell onto the car of some little old lady. The psycho more than likely would have been able to grab me and throw me back into the van without a backward glance.
“And now your dad.”
I rolled my eyes. “My dad who should be at work right now.”
“I took the day off.”
My jaw dropped. Dad took the day off. He was the man who had instilled my massive work ethic in me. If I wasn’t bleeding or dead, I better be at work. Nothing kept Dad from earning his paycheck, and I was the exact same way. I never wanted anything handed to me unless I worked hard for it.
I sat up and motioned for him to come closer. Once he was within reach, I moved up the sleeve of his shirt, and he stepped away from me.
“What in the hell are you doing, girl?” he grumbled.
“She’s looking to see if you you’re bleeding, Troy,” Mom drawled. “The only reason you won’t work is if you’re dead or bleeding.”
“And you’re obviously alive so I had to assume that you were bleeding somewhere.”
King chuckled. “She’s got you there.”
Dad raised his middle finger at King. “Don’t make me kick your ass.”
King raised his arms. “I’d love to see you try.”
“You lay one finger on him, Troy, and you’re going to be the one laying in that bed,” Meg warned. “I will kick your ass if you try to kick his ass.”
“You think I need you fighting my fights for me?” King growled at Meg.
Meg stepped in front of King with her back to him. “Until your doctor clears you to get back to kicking ass yourself, yes, I am your fighter.”
King wrapped his arm around Meg and pulled her close. He whispered something in her ear, and she laid her head back on his chest with a blissful smile on her lips.
“I’m always amazed at the way our conversations go sideways in the blink of an eye.” Mom moved to my bed and laid her hand to my forehead. “How is my girl doing?” she asked.
I shrugged. “As good as can be. I just need the swelling in my arm to go down, and then I’ll be sprung from here.” I needed to get out of the hospital. I was doing no good being laid up in bed.
Mom looked down at my arm that was wrapped up in a sling. “That won’t be until tomorrow, honey. You might as well just lay back and rest. At least you can get some sleep without anyone bothering you.”
I scoffed. “That would be fine as long as Ransom doesn’t sleep in the chair next to me. The man snores like a freight train.”
“I’ll stay with you tonight,” Dad promised. “I’ll stay with you until you get discharged, and then, you’re coming home with Mom and me.”
I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “Uh, no thanks, Dad. I am more than okay staying at my place.” I was way past the age of needing to stay with my parents. Maybe in about fifteen years when they were older and needed more help, I would move in with them, but they weren’t ready for that.
“She’ll stay at the clubhouse,” King interrupted.
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I am more than fine staying at my own place.”
“Do you think she forgot that she was kidnapped yesterday?” Pie muttered.
I tipped my head to the side. “Yes, I was kidnapped, but now, I’m not. Life goes on.”
“You really are tough as nails, doll.” King shook his head. “But I think this might be something bigger than you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I think you are wrong. I can help find this guy now. I was in his van. I heard his voice. I can help even more now.”
“You recognize his voice?”
My eyes shot to the door where Ransom stood with a burly looking guy next to him.
“No, but if I heard it again, I would know instantly.” I would forever hear that voice in my head. It wouldn’t go away.
“You the bounty hunter who is going to save the day?” Pie asked. He looked the guy, who I assumed was Bear, up and down and puffed out his chest a little bit.
A smirk spread across Bear’s lips. “Don’t know about saving the day, but I’m going to help as much as I can.”
“Let me introduce you to everyone before they start grilling you,” Ransom mumbled. He went around the room, introducing everyone to Bear, and then, his eyes landed on me. “And this is Luna. The bane of my existence.”
A laugh bubbled from my lips. “You really know how to talk a girl up, Ransom.”
“Don’t feel too special,” Pie mumbled. “You’re the bane of every in the clubhouse, too.”
I flipped off Pie. “Sit and spin.”
“Yeah, what you said about her was right,” Bear chuckled.
“What did you say?” I demanded.
Ransom shook his head. “You fork over that snoring audio, and I’ll tell you what I told Bear.”
I scoffed and shook my head. “I can imagine what bullshit you told him. I’m not giving up my ace in the pocket.”
“He literally said you were the bane of his existence,” Bear smirked.
I glared at Ransom. “Like I was going to give up the audio for that.”
Ransom shrugged. “It was worth a shot. By the time you gave me the audio, I would have taken off and you wouldn’t have been able to catch me.”
“I have a broken arm, not leg, Ransom. I could run circles around you.” Ransom was always trying to get a rise out of me.
“We were discussing where Luna would be staying before you guys walked in,” King interrupted.
“There is no discussion to it. She’s coming back to the house with me and her mom,” Dad thundered.
“You plan on taking off work to keep an eye on her until Ransom and Bear find this guy?” Pie asked.
Dad tipped his head to the side and glared at Pie. “No, but I figure you can keep an eye on your sister while I’m working.”
“Hell no,” Pie growled. “I am not going to be babysitting Luna. Not happening. You can’t make me do that. I want her to be safe just as much as you do, but no.”
Bristol elbowed Pie. “You’re being a dick.”
And Bristol moved up ten pegs in my book.
“I lived with her for nineteen years!” Pie defended. “You have no idea the shit I went through being her brother. I put in my time, and I am retried from Luna watch.”
“Bear and I will keep an eye on her,” Ransom interjected. “I planned on it before you guys thought about it.”
“Pie is a being a pussy, but he has very valid points. Keeping an eye on Luna is not for the weak,” King advised. “It may seem like we’re overreacting, but we have experience with this.”
“How do you think you are going to keep her safe?” Dad spat. “Do we need to go over the fact that you don’t know how to do your job?”
“Tough room.” Bear chuckled. “You weren’t kidding, Ran.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Ransom repeated.
I raised my hand. “Hi, my name is Luna, and I’m going to have a say in this. I know you think you can just tell me to do whatever since I have a vagina, but that stops today.”
“Oh, God,” Pie groaned. “Did you have to say the V word? My sister does not have one of those.”
“I know you say it never happened, but I know you dropped him on his head, Mom,” I drawled.
We all started talking at once. Me trying to talk over everyone to tell them I was more than capable to take care of myself, and then every man in the room trying to tell me what I needed to be doing. I swear, did all men think they could boss people around because they had a dick swinging between their legs?
“Shut up!” Meg shouted.
I snapped my mouth shut, and everyone else froze.
“My God,” Meg groaned. “You guys are all ridiculous.” Her eyes fell on me. “You can’t be alone, Luna. You need to decide where you are going when you’re released. Home with your parents, to the clubhouse, or with Ransom and Wolf.”
“Bear,” Bear grunted. “Though Wolf would be a kickass name.”
Meg flitted her hand at Bear. “Yes, you’re right. I must have subconsciously made you cooler.”
Bear tipped his head to the side. “I can’t tell if she insulted me, or I should say thank you.”
Ransom clapped him on the shoulder. “Welcome to my world, brother.”
“I don’t like any of the options you just gave me, Meg. I want to sleep in my own bed,” I insisted. And also not have anyone watching my every move.
“Oh,” Meg snapped her fingers. “You could stay in the hospital. I forgot to mention that one.”
Ransom scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“They’ll be kicking her out as soon as they can,” Pie laughed. “It’s a miracle she hasn’t cursed out the nurses by now.”
“You know what your girlfriend said to you before?” I snapped. “She was one hundred percent right.”
“I say we just leave her on the side of the road,” Pie drawled.
Even after being kidnapped, Pie was the brother who loved me, but he was still an asshole. Typical. I sat back on the pillows behind me and folded my good arm over my chest. “I don’t know what I want to do.”
“I don’t think I have ever heard those words come out of your mouth before,” King drawled.
I hadn’t really said them before. “I guess there’s a first time for everything. And besides, all of you keep telling me I’m not going home today, so I guess I’ll take the day to figure out where I’m going to go once I bust out of here.” A yawn escaped my mouth, and I closed my eyes.
“She’s not up for this conversation right now,” Mom tsked. I felt the blanket move from around my waist, and Mom laid it over my chest. “You need to rest.”
If my eyes were open, I would have rolled them hard. “Just give me a quick power nap and I’ll be ready to get back to arguing with all the Neanderthals.”
“Take the day to rest. Nothing needs to be decided right now,” King called.
“You have therapy in two hours,” Meg reminded him.
“I fucking hate therapy,” King grunted.
“Yeah, well, if you want to be able to get back on your bike, you’re going to need to go. Right now you barely have enough strength to keep you standing.”
“Meg,” King growled.
Uh oh. Pointing out King’s weakness from the stroke was obviously not a good thing to do. Even if you were Meg.
“You’re staying with your sister until she gets discharged.”
Oh, my God. Dad was driving me crazy.
“He’s not staying here. If you want me to relax, then he needs to not be here,” I droned. “Anyone but him.” I should have thought before I said that.
“Good, then Bear and I will keep an eye on you.”
I opened one eye and looked at Ransom. “Can I amend what I just said?”
“Shouldn’t you be looking for this psycho?” Dad asked.
“He can work today,” Mom chirped. “I plan on staying with Luna through dinner.”
Mom to the rescue.
“Works for us.” Ransom nodded to Bear. “We can get you set up at my place and then we can head to the station. We can be back by dinner to take the night shift.”
One second, I was hoping the swelling in my arm would go down, and then, in the next, I was praying it would stay as big as a balloon. Each option had pros and cons.
I didn’t have it in me to argue. Even though I said that I was fine after yesterday, I was hella tired. I closed my eyes and snuggled into my pillow. “Whatever,” I mumbled.
I drifted off to sleep to the mumbled voices of everyone milling around my room. I wished I could have stayed awake a little bit longer, but that wasn’t in the cards for me.
Sleep took me over, and I was more than okay with that.
Chapter Five
Ransom
“THIS IS ALL THAT YOU have?”
I nodded and leaned back in my chair. “Now you can see why this case is impossible for me to figure out. This guy leaves no evidence at all and there have been zero glimpses of him until yesterday.”
