Ram
I had a house, a woman, and a teenage girl. None of which I’d ever expected, and I damn sure hadn’t thought I’d be back with the Devil’s Fury. Then again, I’d never gotten rid of my cut. I guess some part of me always considered the fact I’d return. It just hadn’t been on my to-do list in the near future.
I had a feeling Talia would eventually leave. While I didn’t know anything about her past, I knew she couldn’t have had an easy life. The strength she had was the sort to be earned. It was clear she’d been through many battles before I’d met her yesterday. Even though I hoped Vega had been the worst of it, I doubted it to be true. I’d learned long ago just how cruel the world could be, and it liked to devour beautiful things like Talia.
Yes I could admit to myself that I not only found her intriguing but also alluring. The way she stared at me with defiant eyes, the thick mass of hair hanging down her back, and her full pouty lips, all made me want to reach out and grab her, hold on tight, and never let her go. I had to remind myself she was more like a wild mustang than a hissing kitten. Talia wasn’t the type of woman to be easily tamed.
The house my brothers had given me was bigger than I’d expected. I didn’t think it was more than 1600 square feet, but it was far larger than what I would need as a single man. It had been so long since I’d even been on a date, much less considered keeping a woman as my own. It didn’t seem likely I’d settle down any time soon. Not unless I could gain Talia’s trust and convince her she belonged with me.
Much like the women I’d brought here, I didn’t own much. Constantly being on the road meant I had to travel light. I only kept a small bag of toiletries, two pairs of basketball shorts, two tanks, one jacket for colder weather, and two changes of jeans and tees. My running shoes were in my saddlebags as well. When they made a list of the things they needed, I knew I’d have to make one for myself as well. The club might pay for the items the women and girls requested. I’d have to purchase my own.
I hadn’t lied about having enough money for the things we’d bought along the way. It didn’t mean my account was overflowing with cash. In order to pay for everything I’d need for both myself and the house, I’d have to talk to Badger about getting a few jobs assigned to me. Otherwise I’d be out of money within a few days.
Exhaustion pulled at me. Getting some sleep would be a good idea, except I had too much on my mind right now. I didn’t know what to do with either Talia or Riley. One wanted to stay with me, and the other would be out the door without any hesitation. Talia was far too independent. Of course, that was one of the things I liked about her. I’d never been into meek and submissive women.
I had been telling Talia the truth when I said my cup of coffee wouldn’t keep me awake. There was only one thing I knew for sure would give me the burst of energy I needed. A long run through the compound. When I had been a Prospect for the club, Grizzly had always told me to run it off whenever I had too many thoughts in my head. Over the years, I’d learned it was also a good way to stay awake. My feet pounding the pavement helped me center my thoughts, while the pumping of my heart gave me the adrenaline I needed to push through the day.
I’d left my bike at the clubhouse, which meant I didn’t have easy access to my saddlebags. Not having access to my running clothes or tennis shoes meant I couldn’t go on a jog. I could however walk to the clubhouse and ride my bike back. After making sure Talia and Riley were both okay, I quietly left the house.
I hadn’t walked past more than three houses when I heard cursing and the sound of boots coming toward me fast. I didn’t recognize the man, which meant he didn’t know me either. The fact I wasn’t wearing my cut wasn’t going to make this any easier. It sounded as if he was right behind me, and anticipating him attempting to knock me down, I sidestepped at the last minute. The guy crashed onto the pavement and glared at me over his shoulder.
“I realize you’re going to get up all pissed off no matter what I say, but I do belong here. In fact, I’ve been part of this club longer than you have. Just haven’t been around for more than ten years.”
The man stood up and dusted himself off. “Bullshit. Who the fuck are you?”
“My name is Ram, and if you’ll let me continue on to the clubhouse, I’ll get my cut out of my saddlebags. Or you can keep detaining me until my patience wears out. Then you’ll be eating the pavement again.” I noticed the patch on his cut said Dingo. I had heard about him from Badger. If I remembered right, he was one of the brothers with the family now. “Look, I get it. You have a family to protect and you saw some strange man walking by your house. If you really think I don’t belong here, give Badger a call.”
“If you’re part of this club as you claim, why haven’t I heard of you before?” Dingo asked.
I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. As far as I knew, until last night, Badger was the only one aware I’d still been alive. He’d clearly spoken to Demon and Slash. He’d also mentioned needing to call Church to explain my presence here. Something told me Dingo wouldn’t be the only man questioning whether I belonged here.
“Badger mentioned he’d called Church. I think he was giving me time to settle into my house and get some rest. To answer your question, I think everyone believed I was dead.”
The skeptical look on his face made me wish I’d just stayed home. At this rate, I’d end up fighting him and possibly others before I even reached the clubhouse. All I’d wanted was to get my bike and go for a run. If it hadn’t been for the women and girls, I wouldn’t be here right now. And I was definitely second-guessing my decision to stay. It wasn’t like I’d thought it would be easy, but I didn’t feel like dealing with any of this bullshit right now. Where the fuck were the brothers who knew who I was?
“If you don’t want to ask Badger, then give Demon or Slash a call. They both know I’m here. Adalia and Shella helped set up my house yesterday, so you could check with them too.” I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “Look, I just want to get my bike from the clubhouse. My clothes are in the saddlebags. If I’d have known it would have been such a hassle to leave my damn house, I’d have stayed home.”
I heard someone approaching from behind and cursed my rotten luck. Was someone else coming to give me a hard time? This was getting to be more troublesome than it was worth. I didn’t remember my brothers being this fucking annoying. Regardless, I held myself back. As much as I wanted to plant my fist in Dingo’s face, I didn’t think Badger would appreciate it much. And it certainly wouldn’t earn me any points around here. Well, unless everyone else found this bastard annoying too.
“Are you kidding me right now?” I didn’t even have to turn around. After ten years, I still recognized that voice. On the upside, maybe he could get Dingo to back the hell off. Then again, there was always a good chance Steel would just put me on my ass.
He stopped beside me, forcing me to turn and meet his gaze. It didn’t seem like he’d aged as much as Badger had. He eyed me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes and back again.
“Yes, Steel, it’s really me. It wasn’t my intention to blindside everyone.”
He pulled me in for a tight hug, slapping my back a few times. I had to admit it was good to see him. He was one of the few I’d truly missed while I was gone.
“Are you back for good?” he asked.
“I guess that depends on whether or not everyone wants me back. Badger gave me a house. It seemed like everything was a done deal, until I ran into this asshole who’s been giving me shit.” I motioned toward Dingo. “I just wanted to retrieve my bike from the clubhouse. Didn’t think it was going to be such a big issue.”
“Why am I the asshole?” Dingo asked. “I saw a stranger walking through the compound, no cut or bike in sight, and now I’m wrong for asking questions?”
“The fact you’re still upright tells me he’s not too pissed off. Yet.” Steel smirked. “Because if he’d lost all patience with you, you’d not only be on the ground, but you’d also need a hospital. We didn’t call him Ram for nothing.”
Dingo threw his hands in the air and walked off. He called back over his shoulder. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but I’m trying to teach my kids it’s not nice to lie, and I lead by example.”
Steel laughed hard enough he pressed a hand to his belly. It was nice to know someone was amused by this.
“That’s right, laugh it up, asshole. I hope you choke on air.”
If anything, my words only seemed to make him laugh harder. I rolled my eyes and walked off. Why did I get the feeling today was going to make me want a bottle of Fireball? At least I knew Badger, Demon, Slash, and Steel didn’t have a problem with me coming back. Four down, and who knew how many to go. Judging by the number of houses, the club had grown a lot over the last decade. How many more new faces would I meet?
By the time I got the bike back to my new house, the urge to go for a run had long passed. Instead, I decided to check the cabinets and fridge and make a grocery list. I didn’t think they’d have left the kitchen completely bare, but it didn’t mean it would have everything I needed. I found a small package of paper plates and another of solo cups in a cabinet, as well as a box of plastic utensils. Thankfully, they’d provided a skillet, pot, baking sheet, and basic cooking utensils. At least I’d be able to fix us something to eat.
The food items were every bit as limited, but I found a package of chicken breasts, tater tots, and freshly made ice in the freezer. The fridge had half gallon of milk, orange juice, four bottles of beer, a small tub of butter, a carton of eggs, and a bag of shredded cheese. I certainly hoped they’d put more than this in the apartments. Opening a different cabinet, I found two boxes of macaroni, a few cans of soup, and some packs of ramen noodles. They’d also left some bananas and apples on the counter.
“Were they trying to feed a biker or a college student?” I muttered to myself. It was a good thing my mother had taught me to be resourceful in the kitchen. She might have passed before I’d turned eighteen, but she’d given me quite a few life lessons before then. I knew I’d had it better than some.
If only I had a baking dish, then I knew exactly what I’d cook for the three of us. I wondered if it was too early to call Badger’s house. Surely Adalia would let me borrow one.
Instead of taking the chance of a ringing phone waking any of them up, I sent a quick text to ask about the baking dish. Of course, Badger’s response made me wish I had Adalia’s phone number instead.
A baking dish? Did you turn into fucking Betty Crocker while you were gone?
I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a breath before responding. It probably wasn’t a good idea to start the day by calling my club president an asshole.
Can I borrow one or not?
It only took him a moment to reply. Yeah. I’ll have a Prospect leave it by your front door. I’d imagine your girls are still sleeping.
I replied with a quick thank you and ignored his comment about my girls. While I waited for the baking dish, I decided to shower and change. Probably wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and wear my cut as well. If I’d had it on earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have had an issue with Dingo.
It didn’t take me long to shower and pull on a clean pair of jeans and shirt, and I draped my cut over the back of a kitchen chair and left my boots by the front door. Checking the small porch, I found the baking dish and brought it inside. Since the Prospect had set it on the ground, I gave it a quick wash before setting it on the counter by the stove. I set the oven to preheat, then took the tater tots out of the freezer.
It took a minute as I pulled out different drawers, but I finally found some aluminum foil. It would take a few days before I remembered where to find everything. I spread it on the counter and placed the tots on top. After I put another sheet of foil over it, I pressed down hard and mashed the tots, then placed them in the bottom of the baking dish.
Some diced ham or chopped-up bacon would have been a perfect addition. Hell, I wouldn’t have even minded some diced onion or even a little bell pepper. My mom always added those when she made this. Sometimes if she wanted to really spice things up, she’d use pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar, and add a can of Rotel. Getting the eggs, milk, and cheese out of the fridge, I cracked eight eggs into a bowl, added a splash of milk, then beat them with a fork. I poured the eggs over the tots, and topped it with shredded cheese, then baked it in the oven.
It might not be the most perfect breakfast in the world, but it would easily feed the three of us and would keep for several hours if Talia and Riley slept for a while longer. Although, I had improvised with the tots. My mom had always used frozen shredded hash browns.
I wondered what she would have thought of Talia and Riley. For that matter, I wanted to know what she’d think about the way I’d lived my life. Would she be proud of me? Or would it have broken her heart to know I wouldn’t hesitate to take another life, even if it was in order to save others? Anytime I’d stayed in one area for too long, the papers would start to piece things together. I’d often been called a vigilante. They weren’t exactly wrong.
I heard the sound of footsteps outside the kitchen. Turning to face the doorway, I saw Riley rubbing her eyes. She blinked at me like a sleepy little owl, and I couldn’t help but smile. I didn’t know why she didn’t want to return home and I wouldn’t pry. But one thing was for certain, if I’d ever had a kid like her, I’d have done anything to protect them and keep them safe. Of course, I’d never stayed with a woman for more than a few nights, not since high school. At this point in my life, I didn’t think I’d ever be a father.
“Morning, Sunshine,” I said. “You’re up a lot earlier than I expected. Did you sleep okay?”
“I woke up a few times. I don’t think I slept more than fifteen to twenty minutes before I’d jolt awake, thinking I was back in the cage.”
I held my hand out to her, giving her the option to come to me or keep her distance. As much as I wanted to comfort her, I also worried I could do more harm than good. It surprised me when she not only came to me but wrapped her arms around my waist and snuggled against me. I closed my arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug.
“It will take some time to adjust. You have a lot of healing to do, and I don’t just mean the physical kind. I’m not going to ask what you’ve been through, or why you didn’t want to go home. But you can stay here for as long as you want to.”
She took a step back and swiped her hands over her cheeks. I hadn’t even realized she’d been crying. She gave me a tremulous smile before taking a seat at the kitchen table.
“I never knew my dad, not my real one. If I had, maybe he’d have been something like you. Kind. Generous. The type of man who would support his daughter and tell her everything would be okay no matter what she’d been through.”
I walked over to the coffee maker, put in fresh grounds, and hit the start button. There was so much I wanted to say. Since Badger assured me I still had a place in this club, there was no logical reason I couldn’t tell her what was on my mind. Fear held me back. It had been a long time since anyone depended on me. Was I even up to the task?
“My mom had me when she was really young. She’d gotten a fake ID to go to a bar, even though she was only sixteen. The only thing she knew about my dad was that he rode a motorcycle, and he’d told her his name was Montgomery. We lived in a trailer all my life, and she had a revolving door of boyfriends. Each one worse than the last.”
I braced my hands on the counter, feeling as if my knees would give out. It had to be a coincidence, right? There were probably dozens of bikers in this country by the name of Montgomery. Just the same, I needed to know a little more.
“Riley, where did you grow up? I assumed Vega had found all of you not too far from the warehouse. Do you even know where I found you?”
“All I know is that they took me off the street, injected me with something, and I woke up in a cage. I’d been with those men even before I met Vega.”
So there was a good chance some, if not all, of the women and girls weren’t even from that area. We hadn’t been too far outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Now we were in southern Georgia, near the Florida Panhandle. Had I taken her even farther from her home? She might not want to return, but the fact remained Riley was a minor. Was her mother even looking for her?
“What state are you from?” I asked.
“I grew up near Biloxi, Mississippi. I doubt my mom is looking for me. If you want to check, her name is Reba Carson.”
I studied Riley’s features, looking for anything familiar. From the shape of her eyes, to the color of her irises, and even the slope of her nose, I couldn’t deny she looked like someone I knew. A much younger version of my mother. Her hair color and texture, the shape of her face and mouth, were all different. Fourteen years old. If I accounted for the months her mother would have been pregnant, then it would have meant she was conceived while I was in that area.
My heart pounded and my mouth went dry. I had thought about asking Riley if she wanted to stay here permanently, thinking I could adopt her. But if my new knowledge, and the math, were correct then she might very well be my daughter. The woman I’d hooked up with during those days hadn’t been called Reba. Since Riley said her mother had used a fake ID, it was possible the name hadn’t been real either.
“That fake ID your mother had, did she ever tell you what name she used on it? It wasn’t by any chance Riva Carter, was it?”
Riley’s eyes went wide, and she gave me a slow nod. “Mom ranted about it one night when she was drunk. How did you know that name?”
I swallowed hard and hoped I wasn’t about to fuck up. She could take the news badly, thinking I’d abandoned her all these years. If I’d ever known about her, I would have made sure she was okay.
“Because I was in the Biloxi area roughly fifteen years ago, and I met a woman named Riva at a bar.” I moved closer to her and kneeled beside her chair. “I earned the name Ram when I patched into this club. When I left, I’d sometimes tell women my first name. I didn’t really feel like part of the Devil’s Fury anymore. My legal name is Montgomery Cash. Would you be willing to help me with a paternity test? There’s a chance you might be my daughter.”
Tears slipped down Riley’s cheeks, and she flung her arms around me. I held her as she cried. As my gaze shifted to the kitchen doorway, I saw Talia. She paled a little and leaned against the door frame. I motioned for her to join us in the kitchen. She gave me a tight smile and came to sit down.
“Looks like we have something to celebrate,” Talia said.
The timer on the stove dinged and I pulled away from Riley. After I fixed our plates, got us some drinks, and sat down I sent a quick text to Badger.
Any idea where I can get a paternity test done?
He didn’t even bother texting back. Instead, he pounded on my front door about five minutes later.