Shackled (Ghost Riders MC Book 2) Page 13

  “We all know who Noah does what with,” Diesel smirked.

  I gave him the finger.

  “Fuck off.”

  “Enough. We didn’t come here for that.” Mason sat forward and picked up his beer, swirling the drink thoughtfully inside the bottle. “I’m more concerned about Ruiz’s appearance last night. Something wasn’t right. How did he know we would all be in one place?”

  “He looked like he was looking for a reason to have an all-out brawl in the street,” I agreed.

  “He would’ve got it as well if you’d shot him,” Diesel pointed out.

  “I shot out his tires so I didn’t shoot him in the face. I wasn’t about to do that in front of Liz.” The thought of her seeing that turned my stomach.

  Diesel was staring at me in vague wonder. He grunted and shook his head, swigging his beer.

  “You really are going soft if your first thought is to your lady friend,” he muttered.

  “I’m not going to argue about that. And I didn’t like how Ruiz spoke to Liz. There was something about it that spooked her, clearly.” I looked between the two men. “Has she ever had interaction with Ruiz before?”

  It was then I saw the two of them glance at each other nervously. Nervously? I hadn’t seen that in a very long time. But then both of them were shaking their heads.

  “Nope, not that I know of,” Mason declared.

  “Same here,” Diesel added.

  They were lying. I could tell. I sat forward. “Did you know anything about an auction?”

  Mason’s face changed for a split second. I saw the shock, the fear. Mason had never been fearful of anything in his life. He knew something.

  “No.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t believe you, Mason.”

  Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Are you questioning me, Noah?”

  “Yes.”

  It was the first time I had ever questioned Mason. I would do something without batting an eyelid before. But now, after what I had heard from Liz and witnessed myself, I was beginning to question a lot of things.

  Mason scowled.

  “Keeping questioning me and you won’t be able to do anything beyond sucking your meals through a straw.”

  I knew he would do it. If Hunter hadn’t been upstairs and this safe house wasn’t meant to be safe, I would have gone after Mason and challenged him some more. But the reminder that my son was close by and could walk in on this had me drawing back, simmering with a scowl at my boss.

  “Fine. But Ruiz has a hold over Liz. I don’t know what it is, but I really don’t like it. I want to know what.”

  “Can’t you ask Liz about it?” Diesel asked. “I’m sure you can find a way to get her to talk.”

  “Shut up, Diesel. And she doesn’t want to talk about it. We’re getting things back on track between us and this could completely derail us.”

  That was part of the reason I wasn’t pushing it right now. I wanted us back to how we were. Liz needed to feel comfortable with me again and she wasn’t quite there yet.

  I missed the old Liz, but I did love the new Liz, even if she was a shadow of her former self. She was certainly sexy as a mother.

  “Do you think she told Ruiz where we were last night?” Mason queried.

  I started.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, she might have told him in the hope of getting a fight out of us. She did like a fight in the past.”

  I was shaking my head before Mason had finished.

  “Not a chance. Liz had been at my side since long before we left the house. She never answered the phone.”

  “She could have done it in the restroom.”

  “Why would she do that, Mason? Somebody said something, and Ruiz came along looking for a fight.”

  Diesel smirked. “So, it was someone else. Now who else do we know around Nevada that could possibly want to wipe out our club?”

  “Too fucking many.” Mason pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know why, though. Cartel’s doing a damn fine job without them.”

  “Unless Ruiz is offering them something else.” I murmured. I saw Diesel and Mason giving me confused looks and I explained. “Help the cartel wipe us out, get a piece of everything we own.”

  Mason grunted. He didn’t look any happier than I was with the scenario.

  “Well, we need to find out or we’re going to implode. I don’t like the thought of this.”

  “Neither do I.” Diesel looked troubled. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  I was thinking the same thing.

  Chapter 25

  Liz

  I sat back with a relieved sigh, letting the bubbles tickle my body.

  “God, this feels like bliss.”

  Across from me in the hot tub, Cassie groaned, putting a flannel on her forehead.

  “I’m glad you can finally enjoy yourself,” she grumbled. “How do you manage to look and sound great when you were drinking so heavily?”

  I laughed. Cassie had arrived to pick me up with a scowl and a hangover. She drove fine but she kept moaning about the migraine. I hadn’t realized she had been drinking so heavily. Things had been perfect so far. We had been given manicures and pedicures, followed by massages from Noah’s cousin Michelle and her colleague Abigail. Then we had been taken to the hot tub and allowed a long soak. It felt odd sitting in a hot tub naked with my friend across from me, but it felt good at the same time. I was enjoying the hot tub, especially after the hard massage. Michelle had joked about my body being ‘Tense City’.

  “I guess my tolerance for alcohol is just higher than most people. You shouldn’t have drunk that much if you’re struggling to handle it afterward.”

  “Because I try to keep up with the guys.”

  I laughed as Cassie moaned and slumped further into the hot tub, dunking her head before coming back up.

  “It clearly doesn’t work. You’ve seen what happens to those who drink too much. You shouldn’t have to do it yourself just to keep up with the guys. You do realize Mason isn’t going to love you less if you don’t drink as much.”

  “It’s not him I’m worried about,” Cassie grumbled.

  That had me sitting up.

  “Even after everything, you still feel like you don’t fit in? Cassie, you’re someone everyone loves as soon as they see you.”

  “Thank you for your confidence, Liz, but it’s not an easy mentality to get rid of. It’s still stuck in here.” Cassie tapped her head and winced. “Mason loves me, yes, but I’ve still got to keep up things with everyone else. I’m with the president of the club, so I’ve got to hold myself to a higher standard.”

  “It’s a pity your alcohol tolerance isn’t as high.” I giggled.

  Cassie sloshed water at me. I squealed and splashed it back. I wasn’t until someone came in to check on us that we stopped, still giggling like little girls.

  We climbed out the hot tub and went into the sauna. A long sweat certainly helped clear out the pores, although I was sure I was a little tipsy from the fumes. Cassie was sweating out the alcohol and it was thick in the air, which was making Cassie drunk all over again and I was starting to feel the effects.

  I pitied the people who came in after us.

  We stumbled out at the end of our session and managed to get into the changing rooms without falling over. Giggling and trying to contain ourselves, we started to dress. Cassie was sitting on the bench in her underwear, trying to tug on her jeans, while I was almost dressed, with only my t-shirt and sneakers to go, when my cell phone started going off. I had switched it on moments before and it had started bleeping like mad to say I had several missed calls and texts. Almost all of them from the same person.

  The same person calling me right now. I scooped it up and groaned.

  “God, it’s Amy.”

  “What, again?” Cassie groaned and put her hands to her head. “Can you just answer it? The ringing is vibrating inside my head.”
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  “I don’t know if I should.” I was still staring at Amy’s name flashing at me. “I have a feeling she’s going to start screaming at me again. That’s all she does at the moment.”

  Cassie grumbled and managed to get her feet through the legs of her jeans. She stood and tugged the denim up her thighs, buttoning it up.

  “Go on, Liz, just put it on loudspeaker. At least it’ll stop her calling.”

  “You just want to hear a fight over the phone.”

  Cassie grinned.

  “Always.”

  Amy stopped ringing and that became missed called number eight. I put my cell phone down, put my t-shirt on and sat down to get my socks. Then she started ringing again. Cassie smirked and indicated that I should pick it up. Giving her the middle finger, which resulted in Cassie laughing, I answered the call and put it on loudspeaker, putting the cell phone on the bench.

  “Hey, Amy.”

  “I’ve been trying to get hold of you all morning!” Amy’s shriek made my head hurt. Beside me, Cassie flinched. “I was beginning to panic, Liz.”

  “I’ve been busy, Amy.”

  “I thought Noah had done something to you! I was about to call the police.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes. I felt the same mentality.

  “What do you think Noah’s done now?”

  Amy snorted.

  “Knowing him, he could have done anything. Killed you or sold you off…”

  The mention of selling me off had me going cold. I cut my sister off abruptly.

  “Stop right there. He’s done neither and I do have a life. You don’t need to check up on me every second of every day.”

  “If you have a life, then why aren’t you at home? You said you were going away for a while with Noah and Hunter, but you haven’t got the money to stay away this long.”

  “It’s none of your business if I have or haven’t got the money for a long vacation. And even then, Noah’s been covering the costs. It’s the first time we’ve been together as a family so we’re making it special.”

  I wished it was our first vacation as a family. A safe house didn’t class as that but saying it was a vacation would somewhat satisfy my family. Now they were beginning to doubt this. I was going to run out of patience and ability to stall them much longer.

  “Oh, really?” Amy sneered. “I didn’t think he had two cents to rub together.”

  I glanced at Cassie, who sighed and shook her head.

  “Money doesn’t disappear from a bank account when you’re inside, Amy,” I said. I wished I could throw my cell phone across the room. I wished Amy was here as target practice. “Look, I’m absolutely fine. You and Mom need to stop calling me every day, scared that something’s happened to me. Any more of this and you’ll have me paranoid when I don’t need to be.”

  “And so you should be, Liz, considering what Noah is.” Amy said shrilly. “He could sell Hunter off to anyone for drugs!”

  I thought I was talking to someone speaking in another language. Cassie burst out laughing, slapping her thigh. Her laughter almost had me giggling myself at the absurdity of it.

  “Who’s with you?” Amy snapped. “Liz? Who are you with?”

  “I’m with Cassie. We’re having a girly afternoon.”

  “What? Where’s Hunter?”

  “Don’t panic, Amy. He’s with Noah. He said I needed a break…”

  “And you left your son with him?” Amy shrieked.

  I was glad that wasn’t by my ear. As it was, my eardrum was vibrating. I rubbed my ear and tugged on the lobe in an attempt to stop myself throwing something.

  “Amy, Hunter is Noah’s son as well. And Noah is actually a good dad. Hunter’s not going to die and Noah’s certainly not going to sell him off for anything.”

  The thought that Noah would do that to his own kid was ludicrous. Amy was silent for so long I thought we had been disconnected. It wouldn’t be the first time Amy had put the phone down on me in a hissy fit.

  “You’re as deluded as my sister if you think Noah won’t do that.”

  Cassie sat forward.

  “And you’re deluded to think Noah would even do that,” she snapped. “Would you be doing this if Noah was an accountant or a bank manager? The job doesn’t make someone a bad person.”

  Amy sniffed.

  “If Noah was an accountant, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

  I bit back the laugh at thinking about Noah doing anything with numbers. That made me shudder; he was terrible with figures.

  “Listen, Amy, Noah and Hunter are fine together. If you saw father and son together, you wouldn’t have any concerns but you’re not willing to give Noah the chance.”

  “Because bikers are no good. Everyone knows that.”

  “My man would beg to differ on that.” Cassie brought up the screen from the screensaver. “Goodbye, Amy. You’ve ruined a perfect day but I’m going to make sure Liz enjoys it by the end.”

  Then she hung up, sliding my cell phone across to me, shaking her head.

  “Irritating bitch.”

  “Couldn’t have put it better myself.” I rubbed my hands over my face. Any conversation with my sister lately was completely draining me. “How am I related to her?”

  “I haven’t figured that one out,” Cassie grunted. She reached for her shoes. “It’s a shame we can’t choose our blood family.”

  I had no argument with that.

  Chapter 26

  Noah

  “Why are we here?” Liz asked as we pulled into the clearing. Hunter was sitting in the back sucking his thumb and cuddling his toy rabbit blanket to him. I grinned at Liz as I turned off the engine.

  “I thought we could have dinner out today instead of being in the safe house.”

  “In the middle of nowhere?” Liz gave the woods a skeptical look. “I don’t see the fascination.”

  “You will when you see what I’ve got set up.” I looked in the back of the car and grinned at my son. “Come on, Hunter. Let’s show Mommy what we’ve done.”

  Hunter smiled around his thumb. I climbed out and hurried around to get him out. Then I helped Liz out and turned her around, pressing her back against me. I knew she could feel my erection against her backside when I heard her gasp, but I simply kissed her neck before putting a bandanna over her head and her eyes. Liz squeaked but I kissed her cheek and turned her back around.

  “Trust me, Liz. I’ve got you.”

  Hunter giggled. “Noah?” Liz was beginning to sound worried. “I’m not sure I like this.”

  “Keep a hold of my hands and take it easy.” I kissed her knuckles and drew her along with me, bending over to hoist Hunter into my arms. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go. Watch your step, Liz. I’ll guide you.”

  Liz clearly didn’t like me doing this, but she didn’t say a word, stumbling along after me. I was glad I had suggested she kept her clothes from the spa on. This wouldn’t work if she was in heels. After coming back from the spa looking fresh and better than she had done in a long time, I wanted to do something else. It had taken a few phone calls and preparing Hunter as well before I drew Liz out to the car.

  She was going to love this, I knew it.

  We finally reached the spot I had picked out. I remembered it from when I was a kid, running through the woods playing cowboys and Indians. It had been one of my favorite places, by the river, with a magnificent view in what looked like a green cave. The thick trees gave a perfect canopy and it looked like a perfect spot.

  There was a picnic table set up on the flat grass beside the river, laden with a table cloth and an assortment of picnic bites from sandwiches to sausage rolls and apples. Hunter giggled when he saw the table. I drew Liz to a stop and stepped behind her, taking the bandanna off her eyes.

  “There. What do you think?”

  It took a moment for Liz to get her bearings. She stared in astonishment at the sight.

  “A picnic? When did you get this set up?”

  “I aske
d Diesel if he could do it for me.” I put my arm around Liz and kissed her head. “We got a couple of the girls to make up the food for it…”

  “Seeing as your cooking skills are terrible,” Liz giggled. “I’m surprised no one’s come by to take something.”