Ryder Read online

  "What? No. I was interested in pledging to their MC. Nothing else." He held his hands up.

  Some part of me understood why he would pledge to their gang. It was the only one that would take him. Mine sure as fuck wouldn't. He was too young and inexperienced.

  "You don't pledge to the Black Hearts and hang around getting high and drinking beers, son. You step into a role of kidnapping women, breaking them and putting them out on the streets to make a dollar for your President." I patted the side of his face and turned away from him to work on my laundry again. "You're going to end up dead."

  "Like my dad, right?" His voice broke a little.

  I glanced over my shoulder. "Don't push me away, Jason. I'm all that you got."

  "Weren't you and Tanner like brothers at one time, Uncle J? Weren't you his right-hand man?"

  "That was before he turned into a monster. At one time, Tanner King was just a pothead with a bike. Fuck, we all were." I closed the lid and walked past Jason back toward the living room.

  "Ryder." The tone of his voice stopped me. He sounded so much like Roberto that I had to turn around. He'd never called me anything but Uncle before.

  "Do you love me?" He glanced back down at his hands as his shoulders rolled in and he started to cry.

  "Fuck," I whispered under my breath and marched back down the hall, pulling him into my arms. I cradled him against my chest and pressed my chin to the top of his head while he cried.

  "Yeah. I love you. I'm scared as fuck for you too. You're doing everything Robby did. You're following his path and I don't know how to stop you, Jason. I've tried helping, yelling, beating the shit out of you, ignoring you." I moved back and cupped his face. His pained expression drove nails into my heart. "I'm not a father. I don't know how to be one, but I'm trying here. I need you to stay away from Tanner King, boy. He's going to be the end of you."

  He nodded and moved back in to hug me again. "I'll try. I promise. I'll try."

  "That's better than nothing." I hugged him until he calmed down, then turned and grabbed my keys. I had to get the fuck outta there before I broke down too.

  Nothing was going the way I had planned, but then again, life never asked my opinion.

  *

  "There you are. Almost late." Axel glanced up and smiled. "Hand me that wrench over there. The one wrapped up in my rag."

  I walked over to the table and grabbed the tool for him. "Almost isn't late." I handed it down to him and slipped my hands into my pockets. "I slept with the cop last night."

  "What?" Axel pushed up from the position he was in on the floor. "Have you lost your goddamn mind?"

  "Maybe." I reached up and brushed my fingers by my lips. "There's something about her, Axel."

  "Yeah, she's a good girl. Men like us always hope to find a good girl to settle down with." He popped me with the rag. "Don't be stupid, Jon. You know as well as I do that you would never work with a good woman. You're a whore and you'll never give up Candace King fully."

  "Sure I will." I turned and walked toward an old Chevy truck we'd been working on for a week or more. "I wouldn't have fucked her the last time I saw her if I had already met Danielle."

  "Sounds like love." Ellie popped up from the other side of the truck, half-scaring me to death.

  "Shit, El." I smiled and reached out to tug on one of her pigtails. She was too cute for her own good.

  "Love?" Axel walked up and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "No way. He just met this broad two days ago."

  "Three." I pulled away from him and started tinkering with the truck. "She's wrapped up with Tanner, man. So is Jason."

  "What?" Axel moved around the front of the truck and put himself in my line of sight.

  Ellie moved in beside him. "Not Tanner King again, right?"

  "The one and only." I shrugged and stood at the sound of a familiar voice.

  "Where's my ride, guys? Anyone home?"

  "Nathaniel Hayes." I smiled and walked over, extending my hand. "It's been a while. You still frisking girls and busting potheads outside Kadia?"

  He chuckled, his bright blue eyes filled with excitement. "Oh yeah. Your boy Caleb is working up there now too, but I'm sure you know that."

  "Flex?" Axel moved up and offered his hand to Nate. "Hey, brother. Long time no see."

  "I thought Flex said he had a new job as a bouncer." I smirked. "I had no clue it was at Kadia. Small fucking world."

  "Or just a really slutty club with great drugs." Nate turned and pointed to the dark blue Mustang we had sitting in the corner. "She done?"

  "Oh yeah. Just finished up the paint job last week." I turned and walked toward the car. "How did I miss seeing your name on the paperwork?"

  "It's for my girlfriend. I had another guy drop it off because we've been so damn busy."

  "What's the word on the street?" I reached down and brushed my hand over the hood of the car. It looked good. Damn good.

  "Erik's put a hit out on Fredrick Carrington's daughter. You didn't hear that shit from me." He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair before glancing down at the car. "How about you guys? Anything new?"

  "No. Tanner King is fucking with my personal space again, but what else is new. I'm going to have to put that fucker in the ground just to get some peace around here."

  "Yep." He pulled out his wallet. "You should have done that shit forever ago."

  "It's way overdue. I know." I glanced over my shoulder as Axel walked back toward us.

  "Hey, Nate. You ever talk to old Mason Thomas?" Axel handed Nate the keys and an invoice.

  A smile haunted Nate's lips. "He's married now. He's out of the game, man. No more racing for him."

  "No, I knew he'd been married for a while, but I'd really like to get in touch with his guys. We'd love to work on some illegal soup-ups here at the shop. Any of his guys still street racing?" Axel glanced over at me.

  I chuckled. "I thought you were just giving me grief about being a better person."

  He rolled his eyes. "Not a chance. I like you guys how you are."

  Nate took the keys. "I'll get one of them to stop by over here. I know he has a few friends from his original crew still racing. I don't think he's doing it though."

  "That'll work." Axel stuck out his hand and Nate shook it. "Don't be a stranger man."

  "Not at all." He turned back to me. "What's up with Hyde? Erik needs an outside job done in the next few weeks. You think he might-"

  I held up my hand. "I don't get involved in that crazy shit Hyde does, and I don't want to know any-fucking-thing that Erik Bertinelli is involved in. I'm trying not to die anytime soon."

  He nodded. "Fair enough."

  "I'm interested in hearing how you're doing with your boss wanting to take out Fredrick. You're still working for him too, right? So... where's your loyalty at?" Fredrick Carrington owned the nightclub, Kadia, where Nate and Flex worked, but Nate was part of Erik's mafia syndicate.

  "Tough times, man." He ran his fingers back through his hair again. "I'll always protect Erik." He glanced back toward where Axel was and back at me. "Just like you and Jeremiah will always stand beside each other."

  "Unless the mafia comes, then it's all Axel at that point." I stuck my hand out. "Take care man."

  "You too. I'll see you around. Let us know if you need help. I still owe you one." He pulled me into a quick hug and left as quickly as he showed up.

  "Nate gone?"

  I turned to face Axel. "Yeah. You alright?"

  "Oh yeah. I don't claim any part of my family out in Cali, Jon. You know that. Those bastards are as sick as Tanner is."

  "Yeah, but Tanner is fucking with us, and your kin has fucked with the Castalettas in Chicago and now the Bertinellis here in New York. Stupid if you ask me."

  "I agree. Let's just keep my last name hidden, and everything should be fine. I don't want any part of what my cousin Adam is doing with his syndicate. I'd rather forget they all existed altogether."

  "I know the feeli
ng all too well." I got back to the truck I was working on and tried to ignore the feeling of trepidation filling my insides. We lived in a fucking powder keg.

  Something was going to blow soon.

  I just hoped it wasn't me or anyone I cared about.

  Chapter 12

  Dani

  I drove to see my best friend, Natalie the next morning seeing that I had the day off. Staying around the house and thinking about Johnny would have driven me crazy. Every touch, every naughty word, everything he did to me the night before played through my mind over and over again.

  There was no way I would keep my job at the police station if they knew about my indiscretions. Johnny's file was as long as Jason's, and I wanted to go through it but hadn't found the time.

  Or maybe I was trying to save myself from the truth.

  My phone buzzed as I pulled through the drive thru at my favorite coffee shop. I picked up the phone and smiled.

  "Right on time. I was headed your way. You want a coffee?"

  "Hey, you." Natalie sounded chipper like she always did. A single mom who was barely making ends meet working in her family's flower shop, but somehow, she was always in a good mood.

  Glass half full kinda person.

  "Can I take your order?" The guy from the coffee shop asked.

  "Hey, Nat. I'm getting coffee. You want something?"

  "Yeah. I'll take a tall coffee for Doug and a latte with something fun in it for me."

  "Doug's there?" I crinkled my nose. Nat's older brother Doug always gave me the creeps, but he was part of the package deal when it came to having Natalie as my best friend.

  "Be nice," she warned.

  "Alright. Be there shortly." I got off the phone, ordered and paid at the window. The clouds above my head refused to let the sun shine through, which left me a little more uneasy than I usually was.

  Something about the night before at the warehouse had my stomach in knots. Not stepping up to do my job was most likely the top reason I felt like I might puke, but there was more to it. The guy in the warehouse was Cade King, Tanner's little brother. Why did Johnny stay behind to talk to him?

  Did he know him personally or was he just warning him about staying away from Jason?

  I was fucking myself over for not figuring out what Johnny's story was. He had a connection to Tanner. I felt it in my bones, but I rejected the thought the minute it sprung up.

  Some part of me needed him to be free of Tanner King. That would leave the door wide open for something to become of us, for me to at least dream a little about us getting together.

  If he were wrapped up with Tanner, that idea was gone before it was fully birthed. Anyone mixed up with the King family had no soul, no morals, no heart at all.

  My thoughts kept me busy as I drove over to Nat's flower shop. Traffic wasn't too bad, but it was midday on a Friday. Most people were working. Mostly everyone but Doug, or Dougie as Nat called him.

  I got out of the car and walked around to get the tray of coffee when Doug walked out of the shop. The dark mop of hair on his head was pulled back into a man-bun. Just the sight of him made my stomach ache a little.

  "Dani. Don't you look sexy in your tight little yoga pants." He gave me a crooked smile and reached for the coffee. "Let me help."

  "Thanks." I handed the drinks to him and ignored the rest as I made a beeline for the door. I wouldn't be staying too long if he was there. I had enough in my life to jack up my nerves. I didn't need to add time with him to the list.

  "Hi. Long time no see." Natalie walked around from the back counter and pulled me into a quick hug. "How are you? Still pissed about them putting you on probation duty?"

  I snorted. "I hate it. I keep thinking maybe I'll leave and go work for a private organization."

  "Still trying to save the world, hm?" Doug walked around me and set the coffees down on the counter. "You know you're just one person, right?"

  "She's a good person though, Dougie. Leave her be." Nat glanced over her shoulder at her brother. "There's another box of roses in the back. Grab it for me?"

  "Of course." He turned and disappeared into the back room.

  "Is he still running dope?" I lifted my eyebrow and turned back to my best friend. There had been many times where I'd almost busted Doug only to have Nat get in my way. I wasn't a good person, not in the slightest.

  "No. He got out of it." She leaned against the counter and smiled. "You look different. Something you did with your hair?"

  "I got laid. Sort of." I smiled and reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "And it wasn't Seth."

  "Oh no? Who then?"

  "His name is Ryder." Something felt off about telling Nat Johnny's name. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a murder mystery.

  "I know Ryder." Doug walked back in carrying a big box of roses.

  "Stop snooping!" Nat turned to him and helped him set the box on the ground.

  Doug turned to me. "Johnny Moretti."

  I crossed my arms over my chest and forced a facade of indifference. "You know Johnny?"

  "You do?" He laughed and walked over to the coffee, handing them out to us.

  "Sort of." I took my coffee and shrugged.

  "You just said you fucked him." Nat put her coffee to her lips. "Same guy or-"

  "Nat. Shit." I rolled my eyes and let out a long sigh.

  "Oh. Wow. Johnny is fucking someone besides Candace King? Interesting." Doug took a drink of his coffee and yelped.

  I was a little more excited about him getting hurt than I should have been. "Candace King? Who's that?"

  "His ex-girlfriend." He sucked in air and waved his hand around his face as if any of the following would cool his tongue. "She's Tanner King's little sister."

  "How do you know all of this?" Natalie turned and put her hand on her hip. "I thought you were done with those thugs."

  "I am. Fuck." He rolled his eyes and walked to the back. "The minute they started pimping out girls, I was out. You know that."

  "Johnny was with Tanner's little sister? How long?" I turned my attention back to Natalie as shock rolled through me. The world seemed far too small all of a sudden.

  "I don't know. I don't know any of these people." She shrugged and blew on her coffee.

  "For years," Doug called from the back.

  "Stop listening to our conversation, Doug. Shit!" Natalie gave me a look and nodded to the front door. "I want details on the sex. Come on. Let's go out front."

  Sickness rolled through my stomach. If Johnny was with Candace King, then definitely he knew Tanner well.

  How well was the question?

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. Captain Nelson.

  "This is officer Markum." I pressed the phone to my ear as I followed Nat out.

  "It's Captain. We had a call about thirty minutes ago from the judge down in Juvi. Your boy's parole is being denied. We need to bring him in. He's going to be pulled from his home and put in Juvi for the next six months and then reassessed once released."

  "Jason Moretti?" It could have been any of the thugs I was working with. There were plenty of them to choose from.

  "Yes. I know it's your day off, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to pick him up."

  "Do we know where he is?"

  "I'd assume at home. You want to do it, or want one of us-"

  Johnny. I took a shallow breath. "No. I'm on it."

  "Alright. Good luck. The kid is a runner."

  "Thanks, Captain." I dropped the call and gave Natalie an apologetic look. "I gotta go. Duty calls."

  "Awww, seriously? We were just going to get to the good stuff." Natalie pouted.

  I smiled. "Yeah. How is Brent?"

  "He's good." Her face lit up like it always did when we talked about her little guy. "Growing up too fast, I'm sure."

  "Oh yeah." She reached out and took my hand. "Let's get together soon. I miss you."

  "We will, and tell Dougie not to say
anything to anyone about me and Ryder? Please?"

  "Of course not, but I expect details." She wagged her eyebrows and gave me a sexy smirk.

  "You need to be making some details of your own." I walked to the car and opened the door.

  "Tell me about it. It's getting old being single."

  "Change it." I got in the car to the sound of her cackling. She was the most beautiful woman I knew, single, open, friendly... there was no reason why someone hadn't come into her life. Well, maybe one reason. Her pushing them away.

  I dialed Johnny's number, surprised how fate was going to throw us together again.

  "Ryder." His voice was gruff.

  "It's Officer Markum from NYPD." I felt stupid giving him my spiel considering what we'd done with each other the night before.

  "Dani."

  "Look, Jason's parole is being revoked. Is he at the house with you?"

  "No. He's with his mother today for the first time in a long time. Come to the lodge and after a few beers, we'll go find him."

  "Johnny. I can't do-"

  "Are you on shift today?" The sound of his voice alone had my heart palpitating, my mind wandering.

  "No." I held my breath, knowing what he was going to ask.

  "When did they give you until."

  "Tomorrow." I closed my eyes and let my head drop back.

  "Good. Come spend the afternoon with me at the lodge and I'll help you find him in the morning. I promise. Let him have tonight with his mom. It's been a long time for him."

  I nodded. "Text me the address."

  "Grab condoms on your way over."

  I choked on my spit. "What?"

  "Don't play coy. Stop and get some." He chuckled. "I'll see you shortly, Kitten."

  He dropped the call and I sat there in shock. I was headed into the viper’s nest with a box of rubbers and my gun. What was I thinking? What had my life become?

  Who was Johnny and how intimate was he with Tanner? He was Candace's lover, but what else was he?

  I should have listened to reason as I drove down the street thinking about the only thing I couldn't deny.

  I was falling for him, which was stupid and dangerous.

  Both of which weren't me at all, or they used to not be.