And the person they thought had done it? Gemma. The bubbly barmaid from Cooks. She had motive and opportunity. Being one of the many women my father had kicked to the curb. But maybe the most damning evidence?
She had run. Skipped town on the back of Gents bike that very night. I didn’t know Gemma well, but I knew Gent. And it was his betrayal that hit the Black Aces the hardest. He was their brother. And he had betrayed them. It didn’t matter if he had been involved in Fender’s assassination. He had chosen a side. And it was the wrong one.
It was only a matter of time before the Black Aces went after them. Maybe they already had. And Ruin just hadn’t told me.
“Are you doing ok?” My brother’s voice was even. He had worked past the rage and was calmer but it was still there just simmering underneath.
I hadn’t heard him and Avery arguing but they were definitely subdued around each other. That made me sad. They should have been happy that they were finally living together but then again maybe asking for them to be happy with everything that was hanging over them was too much.
I knew I wasn’t happy. Not that I could do much when I was staying in the clubhouse under Twenty Four Seven lockdown.
“Yeah.” I fixed the gold chain around my neck. The one that Fender had given me at Christmas. One of his heavy skull rings swung from it. It was too big to wear on my hand but I could wear it around my neck. “Are you?”
My brother merely shrugged. As always he was a
Man of very few words. Women often called him sultry and mysterious. I called him moody and totally cut off from his feelings. “Yeah. Come on people are waiting for you.”
This was it. The final goodbye. Tears sprang up in my eyes and I wiped them away angrily. “Just going to grab my ...oh.” I clung to my brother as he wrapped me in his arms. It had been years since he had hugged me. Not since I was a little child with scabby knees. But it was just what I needed. I sagged against him.
“I love you, little sister.” He kissed the top of my head. “And I promise you I will look after you.”
“I love you as well Ruin.”
Stepping away he rolled his shoulders. “Do you want to ride with me today?”
We would all ride. All the Black Aces from this chapter and several dozen that had come in from other chapters. The nomads. Even some weekend bikers. Everyone would ride for Fender and then we would lay my dad to rest and I would have to say one final goodbye.
“Avery should ride with you.”
“She won’t mind.” Something was going on in Ruins eyes. “She can…”
“Chelsea can ride with me.”
Turning I smiled, trying to hide how happy seeing Wicked made me. It had been weeks. Weeks since my father was murdered and Wicked had been anywhere near me. Just seeing him standing there made me believe everything would be ok in the end.
“You’re back.” Striding forward Ruin slapped his oldest friends back. But what did he mean by back? Had Wicked left town? I knew he had said he was leaving after the funeral but had he gone before and no one had told me.
“Of course I’m back brother.” Finally, his eyes settled on me. “Chelsea can ride behind me if she likes? If that’s ok with you both? It would be my honour.”
***
“You went away?” I kept my voice low as Wicked slid the heavy leather jacket up my arms. His every movement was professional. Almost stiff but he did his best not to look at my face. Like he was afraid to meet my eyes. Which was all sorts of funny. The big bad Wicked, all six foot four of him scared of me. A girl almost a foot smaller.
“Just on club business.” He finally said. My coat was on my back but he didn’t step away. He just stood there. “I wouldn’t have missed today Chels.”
“Did you add to your collection?” I couldn’t help asking. And for the first time since he had stepped into my bedroom and Ruin had left, he finally met my eyes.
He knew what collection I was talking about.
“Do you really want to be asking me that question?”
Did I? Part of me wanted to know but another part. The more sensible part didn’t. Of course Wicked had been with women. Probably several women. He was hot as hell and anyone with eyes in their head would be attracted to him. I shook my head. “No, I guess I don’t.” Shaking out my shoulders I stepped away. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No you shouldn’t Chelsea, but for today I think I can give you a free pass.” One bulky arm went around my shoulders. “Can we just not fight today little sis?” His words tore into me. He used to call me the annoying little sister he never wanted when we were growing up. And to hear him say it again was like a physical punch to the gut. Only a few weeks ago he had had his mouth around my nipple and now I was back to being his fake sister? Was that how quickly he forgot.
“Can we just go back to how we used to be? With no games? Can you just let me look after you today?”
“Yeah, I can do that.” It wasn’t like I had much of a choice anyway. He had made his feelings perfectly clear. “Thank you for letting me ride with you Wicked.”