Chapter Seventeen

Ronin knocked on the boss’s office door and waited until Brim said he could enter. Everyone had learned not to just barge in after Bolt had walked in to see Brim and Leia in a compromising position. Brim had thrown his metal stapler at the man, and luckily for him, he had ducked. The divot remained in the wood from impact, and stayed there until the building had burned down.

Thoughts of Bolt sent a little pain into his heart. The man had been loyal and funny. Ready to jump into any situation with both feet. Ronin wished he could reanimate Robert Oakley and kill the bastard all over again. Usually, he wasn’t a fan of torture, but in this case he wouldn’t hold back. Lots of damage could be made with a set of pilers.

“Come in,” Brim said.

“Hey, boss, you wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, come on in.”

Ronin closed the door behind him and took a seat in the chair in front of Brim’s desk. “Hello, Leia.”

“Hello,” she said with a smile. Little Leo slept in the bassinet beside her.

“How is Keres?” Brim asked, and Ronin swung his gaze back to the club president.

“She’s well.”

“Any more nightmares?”

“I have the impression you really don’t care about her nightmares, so what do you really want?”

Brim sighed. “I asked Mac from the White Death to monitor the airwaves about Davorin.”

Cold dread graced over his skin. “And?”

“He’s put a bounty on her head for information where he can find her.” He let that sink in for a moment. “It’s a matter of time before he ends up on our doorstep.”

“And?”

“Perhaps she should leave town for a bit.”

Ronin wanted to snap “no fucking way,” but he thought about what Brim said. Maybe it would be best for her until all this died down.

“I’ll talk to her.

“Thank you,” Brim said. “That’s all I ask.”

Leia gasped, both men shifted their attention to her as she sat on the couch, fingers digging into the armrest. She wasn’t focused on them, but to an area right over his shoulder.

“Leia?” Brim asked in a soft tone.

She rose and walked over to Ronin. “There’s a shadow on you.”

He had never feared death, but he also didn’t relish meeting it too soon. Leia had an ability he couldn’t wrap his head around, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind she told the truth. He’d seen way too much to not believe. Curse or gift, which depended on who was receiving the information.

She reached up and touched whatever it was he couldn’t see. Her eyes turning into a light amber color. That alone freaked him the hell out, although he’d never admit it.

“You’re in a parking lot,” she said. “At night. A drunk man stumbles out of the building.. A man steps into view. Fires a gun. It hits you on the head. Maybe to the right? I can’t … I can’t see where the shooter is hiding. I can only see him when he comes into the light.”

Leia blinked, and her eyes returned to their deep brown color. Ronin’s mind went in several directions as he thought about the conversation upstairs.

“Chase invited Keres to the Poke and Tickle,” he told them.

“Then that’s where it happens.”

He nodded. “Thank you for the warning.”

“Don’t forget, a life must be exchanged,” she warned. “To save you, someone else has to die.”

“Do you know who’s out to kill you?” Brim asked.

“I don’t think it’s about me,” he replied grimly.

Brim sat back. “Keres.”

Ronin nodded.

“He’s found her. Tell me, what is she to you, Ronin?”

“She’s...” He couldn’t answer that question. He had no idea why he was so drawn to Keres. Was it because she was a killer like him? Fierce yet vulnerable? Did her tragic history invoke his pity? Or was it more basic than that? Did he simply enjoy fucking her? What made her different?

“It’s okay,” Brim said. “You don’t have to answer.”

“If we neutralize the threat, then she’s free to live her life. Right?”

Leia gave a one-shoulder shrug. “I suppose? It’s not exactly a science. And it’s not like the shadow just disappears. It morphs if it’s not appeased.”

“Morphs?”

She nodded. “Like when Cindy was after Brim. His death kept changing as she plotted different scenarios.”

“What are you thinking?” Brim asked him.

“Thanks to Leia, we know where the bad guys are supposed to be. We should take advantage of our advantage.”

Leia smiled. “How poetic.”

“Yeah,” Brim drawled. “Just call him Shakespeare.”

****

The Poke and Tickle had to be the silliest name for a honky-tonk she’d ever heard. Keres hadn’t wanted to come since her heart was still in mourning, and she saw no end in sight. But Ronin wouldn’t leave her alone. He stayed plastered to her side, so she let him drag her to the bar. She thought it odd that he wanted to drive a car instead of his bike. Didn’t all bikers prefer a motorcycle instead of a sedan?

Ronin held her hand as they entered the large bar. Music poured out of the speakers and people covered the dance floor. An area toward the back was sectioned off with poker tables. Keres recognized several men from the Death Riders. As she glanced around, she saw Chase waving at her from the U-shaped bar. She tapped Ronin on the shoulder. He turned.

“The women are over there,” she said loudly, wanting to be heard over the loud beat.

He nodded. “I’m heading over to play poker.”

She gave him the okay sign, and they split up. She made her way over to the bar and noticed the music wasn’t quite as loud there. Vivi jumped up from her chair and came over to hug her, throwing her arms around Keres’s waist, who didn’t know how to react to this affection.

“You made it!” Vivi said enthusiastically. “Lincoln said you may not come because you might be depressed, but I told him that’s the precise reason why you needed to come here tonight. We need to cheer you up, and yes, I know sad depression isn’t the same thing as clinical depression, but I don’t think you’re clinical. Or maybe you are. I don’t know. Just a gut feeling. I was the super sad depressed kind when my brother died, but I had my sister to turn to and now we’re your sisters. So, it’s like a big wheel. What goes around comes around, and all that. Maybe you shouldn’t drink alcohol because that’s a depressan t— ”

A beautiful African-American woman slapped her hand over Vivi’s mouth. “Breathe, girl. I don’t think you’ve taken a breath yet.”

“Vivi has one of those talkative diseases,” Chase told her, grinning. “It’s called motormouth. We still can’t figure out how such a tiny person can form words that fast.”

“Or how her brain can keep up with all the words spewing forth. Hi, I’m Sidonie.”

For the first time since the drive-by shooting, a smile cracked Keres’s face. “Nice to meet you. Vivi, you’d make a wonderful auction caller. Supersonic speed of the mouth is a great asset for that profession.”

The women blink at her and then they start laughing, even Vivi who poked Sidonie in the side, so her hand drops away.

“See?” Vivi asked her two friends. “She’s part of our tribe now. Oh! That’s a great name for us! Why didn’t I think of that before? We’re a tribe. Death Riders Tribe. No, not that. Wait, I’ve got it! Tribe Riders! O.M.G! That’s it! I’ve been searching for the perfect name for a while now. Thank you, Keres! I’ve got to tell Lincoln. He’s going to love it!”

Then she was gone, speeding her way through patrons and disappearing from view.

Keres raised an eyebrow. “What’d I miss?”

“That’s a long story,” Chase said.

“It’ll be funnier if we tell you when we’re all getting shit-faced,” Sidonie added.

“Or stoned,” Chase said cheerfully.

The music changed and Sidonie sat up. “Oh, that’s my cue. Chase, save my seat!”

Then she hurried to the stage.

“She sings one or two songs a night,” Chase explained. Then she looked at the bartender. “Hey, Charlie, can you watch our seat?”

“Sure,” Charlie said. “Have fun, girls.”

“Come on, Keres, let’s go watch her.”

She hopped off her chair and grabbed Keres’s hand, following after Sidonie. They weaved their way through until they stood in front of the stage. The lights on the stage came up and Sidonie held a microphone. People clapped and threw out comments about what she should sing. Sidonie smiled at everyone as she pretended to think about each suggestion.

Sidonie had an amazing voice. It was hard to believe she didn’t want to be a professional singer. She sang a Bishop Briggs tune for her first song. After the roar of the audience died down a little, she launched into a Sia song. People around her danced, and Chase encouraged her to join in. Keres was surrounded by people, and the noise and crush of bodies took her mind off her heartache. It was exactly what she needed, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had this type of fun.

After the second song, Sidonie waved at the crowd, and the speakers immediately turned back to pump out music through the sound system. It was too loud for her, so Keres made her way back to the bar with Chase following her. When they reached their seats, a woman and two men talked with Sidonie.

“Oh, good!” Chase said. “I’m so happy that Adira could finally come out!”

Chase hugged the woman named Adira. She was quite striking, with pale blond hair and ice-blue eyes. The two men trailing after her were intense. One with shoulder-length blonde hair and the other had tattoos trailing up his neck and into his hairline. As good looking as they were, they scared Keres just a bit.

“You finally managed to drag these two lugs out to play?” Chase asked.

Adira chuckled. “I had to bribe them with lots of kisses.”

“Just kisses?” Sidonie teased.

The man with the longer hair laughed and stepped up behind Adira to wrap his arms around her. “We never kiss and tell.”

“Keres, this is Ares and Hunter, and their girlfriend Adira.”

She’d heard of polyamorous relationships but had never met anyone in that type of relationship and wondered how that worked. Were they just a threesome every night? What was the draw to sharing a woman all the time?

“This is Keres,” Chase said. “She’s with Ronin.”

The eyebrows of both men shot up with pure surprise in their gazes.

“Ronin with a woman?” Ares mused.

“Didn’t he say they were too distracting?” Hunter added.

“Something like that,” Ares replied.

“Stop teasing, you two,” Adira murmured, laying a hand on each of their arms. Ares picked it up and kissed the back before threading his fingers through hers. “It’s nice to meet you, Keres.”

“Same,” she replied, smiling.

Ares tilted Adira’s chin up to kiss her on the mouth. “I’m going to play poker with the others. Be good for Hunter, sweetheart.”

“I thought both of you were playing,” she said, confusion in her tone.

“I’m gonna stay here with you and your girls,” Hunter told her.

Adira stepped out of his arms, turned, and studied him. “Why?”

“Because I want to.”

“Hunter,” Adira said seriously. “What’s going on? Don’t lie to me.”

He ran his fingertips over her cheek, as if he couldn’t help himself. “Nothing’s going on, baby girl.”

Adira stuck her tongue out at him.

“Brat,” he murmured with a grin.

Shaking his head in bemusement, Ares winked at them and left.

“You’re lying to me, and you’re gonna pay for that,” Adira said. “I’m going to sleep in my own room tonight.”

He laughed. “We’ll see about that, baby girl.”

“Game on,” she said with a smirk.

The bartender came over and nodded. “Does anyone want another drink?”

“Buttery nipples, please,” Sidonie ordered. “Two shots each. The dude is paying.”

They all laughed at Hunter’s sour expression.

Suddenly, Vivi popped up and Sidonie jumped.

“Where the hell did you come from?” she snapped.

“Had a quickie in the bathroom,” she replied with a sly grin. “Hi, Adira! Hi Hunter!”

“Hi,” they both said.

“I didn’t need to know that, Vivi,” Chase replied.

“That makes two of us,” Sidonie muttered.

“But you asked,” Vivi pointed out. “Clearly you did want to know. Besides, I don’t think any one of you would turn down an orgasm from their powerful, muscly, gorgeous, well-endowe d— ”

The other girls groaned.

“Fuck, now that’s going to be stuck in my head,” Sidonie said. “Thanks, Vivi.”

Vivi smiled. “You’re welcome. By the way, it’s official. We are the Tribe Riders. Lincoln loved it.”

Sidonie crossed her hands over her chest. “Did he? What were his exact words?”

“Something something, sure, something something.”

Keres was having a hard time not laughing.

“What are the Tribe Riders?” Adira asked.

“We are!” Vivi said, jumping a little as she clapped. “I’ve been trying to come up with a name because we’ve been kidnapped, caught in a time loop, kidnapped again, apparently died, some of us twice, held at gunpoint, shot at … did I miss anything? Anyway, I thought we could be a club like the guys, but all I came up with was The Mighty Three, but now it’s like six of us, so that doesn’t work. So now we’re a tribe. We can get t-shirts made.”

“I’d be honored to wear your shirt, Vivi,” Adira said.

“Thank you, Adira. You’re awesome. I’m glad you recognize genius when you hear it.”

“You mispronounced annoying,” Sidonie said teasingly.

Vivi stuck her tongue out at her.

The shots arrived. Keres downed hers, liking the creamy butterscotch taste, and studied the women. The easy comradery brought a sense of sadness, but for the first time, she was able to think about Abigail without the feeling of devastating loss. Or guilt.

Maybe being with this tribe was exactly what she needed.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Ronin leaving. Confused, she glanced at the others who were still bickering among themselves. Why was he leaving? More specifically, why was he leaving her behind? Concerned, she hurried after him.

****

Ronin got into place and waited for Brim’s message. On most people, nerves would get the better of them. After all, he was going to face down the barrel of a gun he couldn’t see, and hope like hell his club brothers would keep him safe. Yet, even if they didn’t and he ended up with a bullet in his forehead, well, at least he went quickly. The only fear he had in life was ending up stuck in bed without the means to take care of himself.

He kept his eyes glued to the area where Leia said the Deathmen were going to take their shot. In the overhead streetlight, he saw movement and knew it wasn’t any of the Death Riders.

“Ares and Ghost are in place,” Brim’s voice came through his earpiece. “Lincoln and Thorn are covering the back. These assholes are hiding themselves just like Leia said.”

“Brim, make sure I don’t end up dead,” he muttered in a low voice. “Or I’ll come back and haunt your ass.”

Ronin was anxious to get the show over with so he could go back inside the Poke and Tickle to play poker. Suddenly, the door opened and a man stumbled out. Ronin was keenly aware of what was coming next. As the drunk stumbled off, he took a deep breath and stepped out from the building’s shadow, ready to get the show on the road. He’d been trained to sweep areas quickly with his sight, and just as he saw movement at his right, the door to the Poke and Tickle opened and Keres stepped into view.

Oh, dear God! No! Why the fuck was Keres out here?

Making a split-second decision, he turned and dove for her, just as a shot cracked through the air. Heat grazed his temple as agony engulfed his head. The slick viscous serum of blood poured down his face. Almost immediately, another crack of a gun pealed through the night, and right before he hit the ground, he saw his shooter’s body. A life for a life had been met.

“Ronin!” Keres screamed.

He didn’t even realize he had slumped over until she rolled him.

“Help!” she cried out. “Ronin, look at me. Please, look at me. No, don’t close your eyes.”

They were closed? He forced his eyelids up and saw the fear and concern over her beautiful face. Then his club brothers were there, and Lincoln had his phone pressed against his ear. Probably talking to his brother. Fuck, his head hurt. Keres was moved out of the way, but he couldn’t keep his eyes open a moment more and succumbed to blessed oblivion.