Chapter Five

For the entire trip to the town of Rider Pass, Brim's apprehension grew. Issues he hadn't wanted to deal with would be exposed because nothing good came from rehashing the what-ifs. He'd rather not drown in the grief that lingered just under the surface. Still, the potential betrayal of someone in his club gave him a sense of purpose, so he focused on that, hoping it was enough to put his heartbreak on the back burner.

Leia's arms were wrapped around his waist, and she leaned into his body. He hated to admit that he liked having her so close. Logically, he knew she had nothing to do with his club and the would-be assassin, but a small dose of doubt teased the back of his mind. How did she know about the attempt on his life? Because if she hadn't warned him, then he'd be dead by now. The thought made him pause. If he had died, what had he accomplished in this life? Of the two things that mattered most to him, one was dead and the other he couldn't trust.

When they finally reached the small southeast town of Rider Pass, Brim turned into the first gas station and parked his bike. He turned his head to address Leia, who took off the helmet.

"Hop off for a moment."

She did as he asked, curiosity in her gaze. He dismounted and walked a few steps until he was in full view of the surveillance camera pointed directly at him. Slowly, he slipped off his cut, and held it up before folding it. Then he walked back toward his bike and stored the leather vest in the small storage container on the back of the motorcycle.

"What was that about?" Leia asked.

"I'm in White Death territory," he said. "It's a show of respect as well as telling the MC President I'm not here to start shit."

"Kinda weird they'd have a camera to monitor this gas station."

"The White Death monitors everything in this town. Every camera in town is watched by a guy named Mac."

Leia glanced around. "Uh-huh. So, are you going to tell me anything about your mom before I say something I'm not supposed to?"

"Not much to tell," he replied with a shrug. "A few years ago, she married a man three years older than me—"

"Men have been doing that to women since the caveman days."

He held up a hand. "Hold on. I never said I had a problem with that. More power to her. And Striker isn't that bad of a guy. My mother is a typical biker bitch who likes booze and cigarettes, and she'll probably end up giving you tips on how to give a great blowjob."

Leia's jaw dropped a little. "Seriously?"

He gave a shrug. How the hell was he to know what kooky ideas his mother would come up with. Growing up, she'd been a very unconventional mother, to say the least.

"Interesting," Leia muttered. "Now I'm looking forward to her spilling all your secrets."

"What makes you think I have secrets? I'm an open book."

"Yeah, right. Maybe if the book was on fire." She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a level stare. "I've only known you a day and a half, and I already know you have a list of secrets a mile long. So spill."

This had been what he'd been dreading. Dredging up a past that could not be undone.

"It's just we've had some family heartache, and I'd rather not drag it all up again."

"What type of family heartache?"

Brim clenched his jaw and turned away. There was no way he could talk about it.

"Look, Brim," she said softly. "I have to know something, so I don't put my foot in my mouth. How can I avoid a delicate subject if I'm tripping over our cover story?"

He hated this already.

"I, ah … I recently buried my son," he said. The burning pain that never quite went away threatened to drown him once more. He shook his head. "I can't talk about it, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't bring it up to my mother."

A long moment passed between them, and just when he thought the subject was over, Leia laid a comforting arm on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured. "I can't imagine—"

He jerked away. "I don't need pity."

She circled him until they stood face to face once more. "Compassion isn't pity. No parent should bury a child. I can't even begin to imagine something so horrible."

He swallowed thickly to choke back the tears. He hadn't cried over his son when he had first learned what happened, and he'd be damned if he cried in front of Leia. Some things a man had to deal with alone. Or rather, not at all.

"Just drop it, okay? It's not even up for discussion."

She frowned. "You can't erase him, Brim. You can't keep him hidden away like he never existed. That's not a healthy way-"

"Stop!" he yelled, which caused her to jump. "What part of I don't want to talk about it do you not understand? Jesus, woman, not everyone has to tear apart their emotions like we're in therapy! That's why I didn't want to fucking bring it up."

She stiffened. "Why are you always so mean?"

Once more she managed to render him stupefied. "What?"

Leia held up a hand and began to tick off the count. "One, I save your life and you kidnap me. Two, you chain me up to you so I'm forced to pee in an outdoor bathroom. Three, you force me to use you as a pillow, which by the way, you aren't comfortable. Four, you yell all the time. And five, you're mean!"

She managed to take him so completely by surprise that all he could do was gape at her. Her tirade managed to rob him of speech, and he scrambled to find his footing. But before he could figure out a rebuttal, the roar of a motorcycle reverberated through the small downtown area. They both turned and watched a large black bike pull into the gas station and roll up to them. The rider cut the engine and pulled off his sunglasses.

"Kix," Brim said in greeting.

The large, lethal looking biker gave a nod of greeting. "Thanks for showing respect," he said, giving a pointed glance at the cut Brim took off. "Your mom didn't tell me you were coming."

"She doesn't know," Brim said. "We, ah…

He suddenly didn't know if Leia would still abide by their agreement after everything she had said to him.

"We wanted to surprise her!" she said, stepping in to fill the momentary gap of silence.

Kix looked between them. "We?"

"I'm Leia, like the Star Wars spelling," she said and gave an enthusiastic wave. Then she grabbed hold of Brim's arm and hugged it tight. "I've been begging Brim to meet his mother and he finally relented, although I'm pretty sure it was to shut me up. I have that effect on him, but whatever. We're here now! So nice to meet you. I hope it's okay we just popped in!"

She smiled at him, then winked up at Brim. He almost missed the anger still lingering in her eyes.

Kix cleared his throat. "Um, sure. I'm Kix Rockwood, President of The White Death. Always good to welcome—"

Leia let go of Brim to curtsy. Brim covered his mouth to keep from laughing. If there was a right way to disarm Kix Rockwood this was definitely it.

"Great!" Leia said enthusiastically. She pointed to the diamond tattoo near his eye. "Did that hurt? I've always wanted a tattoo, but am just too chickenshit. Brim has a lot, of course. He's tough as nails, you know. It's almost impossible to get him to laugh."

She rolled her eyes.

A brief moment passed while they all looked at one another. Leia kept smiling, looking like a blank doll, but Brim knew it was all an act. He cleared his throat.

"I didn't expect you to personally greet us," Brim said, changing the subject.

"We've had to step-up our patrols," Kix said.

"Problems?"

"A new gang decided to muster in on our territory. Thought we'd turn a blind eye on their racist shit antics. Big trucks flying big fucking Nazi flags. Pretty sure they've got tiny dick syndrome."

Brim chuckled. "If you need any help, let me know."

"Might take you up on that. Striker is leading a run and Slade … well, he's moved into another position."

"Not sure what that means," Brim admitted, raising an eyebrow.

"He's become his wife's lieutenant in her Borgata."

Brim blinked. "Borgata? Wait, Slade's married?"

Kix nodded. "To Normandy DiLuca."

"No shit!" He'd seen on the news what had happened to Tony DiLuca and his sons. "Pretty unusual for a woman to take it over."

"And Slade took her name. It sent a message." Kix gave Leia a pointed look. "But we can talk about other stuff later. Why don't you follow me back to the grandstand?"

Brim nodded and then handed over the helmet to Leia. Kix waited on his bike until they were situated and then he took off. Brim followed, leaving the small town behind. They drove by fields with tall cornstalks swaying in the light breeze. Brim knew that the MC was self-sufficient, and it was something that he hoped his own club could achieve one day. A stone wall gave a modicum of safety. The gate to the compound was open, and one of Kix's men waved in greeting as they rode through.

The three-story grandstand of a home was painted a fresh white. Black shutters contrasted sharply. Several large garages lay nestled around the house, each with bikes resting in front. Brim parked his bike and cut the engine, then waited as Leia dismounted.

"Wow, I would've never thought this was the home of a biker gang."

Brim frowned. "You really have a bad perception of us, don't you?"

"Well, kidnapping me didn't help," she muttered.

"You really don't trust me, do you? Just remember we're here because you said this was a good idea."

She waved away his words. "I know. And I know my job. But… Look, for what it's worth, I am beginning to trust you. I'm just not entirely there yet. This whole thing has me anxious."

He didn't know why her words eased some of the tightness in his chest. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

Kix waved at them from the porch steps of the grandstand, indicating they should follow him. Brim took hold of her elbow, but Leia tried to pull away.

"Remember that we have to convince people we're a couple," he muttered. "And that can't happen if you're fighting me."

She looked up at him. "Remember our bargain."

"I will always look out for you. Trust me in that."

They stared at one another, and slowly, the barest hint of a smile turned up the corners of her mouth. He glanced at the plump lips, and the thought he'd like to see them wrapped around his cock unexpectantly flashed through his mind. He'd found her interesting the first time he'd seen her, and that interest had only increased. Yet now, something inside him shifted precariously. Lust certainly, but also an intangible element that had him lifting his hand to move a strand of hair off her cheek. Their gazes locked, held. The world tilted, throwing him off balance, and he had an unwanted suspicion that he'd never be the same again.

"Come on, you two!" a female voice called out, breaking the spell.

Leia blinked and turned away, leaving Brim with a feeling akin to loss. Didn't she feel the same way? A little unsettled, he pushed whatever it was aside. Kix's wife, Piper, waved at them from the top of the grandstand's porch. Leia returned the wave and headed toward her. Brim eyed her ass as she walked away, acutely aware that his dick had decided it liked what it saw. Luckily his jeans were tight enough to half conceal his damn boner. What a time to suddenly get hard.

He followed Leia into the living room of the house. It had been a while since he'd last been there and he noted the changes. The enormous three-story farmhouse was where Piper and Kix lived, taking up the entire first floor. Toys were everywhere. A baby gate blocked off the staircase leading up to the next floor. The very pregnant belly of Piper seemed to precede her into every room.

"Welcome!" she said with a gentle smile. "Kix called to let me know you were here, Brim. I'm sure your mom is on her way. She and Striker are now living in our old home. Once the babies started coming, we had to move into the grandstand. More room."

"Thanks for having us," Brim replied. "This is Leia."

"Thank you so much for inviting us into your home," Leia said. "It's absolutely breathtaking! Modern homes are so cookie-cutter nowadays. I appreciate homes with more personality."

Piper beamed and placed a hand on her belly. "I agree. Most MCs only have a clubhouse, but this is more like homebase. The men outfitted one of the garages to be their quarters and party den. We redecorated a bit. Updated the kitchen. I didn't want to be under construction when the twins came along."

"How many children do you have?" Leia asked.

"This is number three and I think I'm done after this fella is born. Tubes will be tied. I'm getting too old to be chasing after three kids under five." Piper chuckled. "Please sit. What would you like to drink?"

"Oh, please let me help you," Leia said. "You shouldn't be lifting anything too heavy."

"I'm okay—"

"I agree," Kix said from the doorway. In his arms he carried two toddlers, a boy and a girl. The little girl had her head on his shoulder. "Sit down, Piper. I'll pour us some iced tea."

He set the kids down and they promptly hurried over to their mom. Kix went into the kitchen and Leia followed, leaving Brim with Piper and her children.

"Seems odd seeing him with the twins, doesn't it?" she asked as she sat on the couch. The two kids snuggled into her, with the boy sucking his thumb. The action brought an aching pain to Brim's heart.

His son used to do that.

"Yeah, it does," Brim replied, clearing his throat.

Piper glanced between him and her son. Sympathy lit up her face. "I'm sorry about your loss. Martha told us."

He nodded, too choked up to say anything. He hated sympathy. Hated any type of sentiment that made him remember that it'd been his fault his son was now dead.

****

"Glasses are over in that cabinet," Kix said, pointing.

Leia followed his direction and pulled down four glasses. "I hope we're not imposing. I was expecting to see Brim's mom and then be on our way."

"Oh, she's on her way, all right," he said, grinning. "You've been warned."

"She can't be that bad."

He opened up the freezer and pulled out an ice tray. "She's endearingly sweet. Like eating too much candy after the dentist has drilled out six cavities. I have to admit, I was a little shocked to see you with Brim."

"Oh? Is that a bad thing?"

Kix shook his head. "Just, his ex was, how should I put it, a woman who understood the biker world."

Leia raised an eyebrow. "Club pussy?"

He chuckled. "I see he told you."

No, he didn't, but Leia didn't reveal that bit of information. So far, the MC life was far different than what she expected. Kix dropped a few ice cubes in each glass then placed the tray into the sink.

"Did you know Brim's son?"

"No," Kix said as he poured iced tea into the glasses. "Never had the opportunity to meet him. He was deployed when Martha married Striker. I'm not sure how Brim has survived that. If anything were to happen to my kids or my wife, I'd think I'd go insane."

Maybe Brim did go a little insane. After all, he admitted that was why he'd gone off on his own. A parent should never have to bury their child.

"I know he feels guilty since it was his suggestion that Nate join the military," Kix added. "He wanted something more for his son, and I can't blame him for that. Here in rural Missouri … well, there aren't many opportunities."

Just then the back door slammed open, and a small woman barreled into the kitchen. Her obviously dyed black hair was up in a ponytail and the air around her shimmered with energy. She came up short when she spotted Leia, and when she raised an eyebrow, Leia immediately saw the resemblance to her son.

"Martha, this is Leia," Kix introduced. "Brim's woman."

Martha stepped closer, looked her up and down, then smiled. "'Bout time he found someone decent. Welcome to the family!"