Moth To A Flame (Reapers MC: Pema Chapter Book 2) Read online

  Jett doesn’t take long to warm up to me. Every question I ask leaves him calmer, less edgy. Pollux can get along with anyone, but even Io loosens up with Jett. He’s very laid-back. When he gets scared, he doesn’t lash out as much as disappear. I can’t deny feeling attached to him by lunch.

  “Gooey,” I tell Jett as we sit in the hotel’s dining room and eat the grilled cheese sandwiches I made for lunch.

  Io starts breathing too fast, signaling tears are on the way. I lean over and kiss the top of her head. Her curly hair smells like bubble gum shampoo. I smile at the memory of her playing in the bathtub last night. When Io’s happy, her smile is as bright as the sun.

  But right now, she’s jealous of the attention I’m giving Jett. I can dote on Pollux day and night without stirring up her insecurities. He’s her second favorite person in the world. But any other kid is competition.

  “Jett, do you take naps at Lizette’s house?” I ask, and he nods. “We’ll play inside after our nap since the cold won’t go away.”

  The little boy watches me under his floppy bangs, and I catch him smiling when he thinks I’m not watching. He’s an awkward child but super sweet. I even find myself wondering what might happen if I ever put in the effort to seduce Kiefer into seducing me. So far, we’ve talked ourselves out of a likely enjoyable fuck. But what if we actually clicked on a fundamental level? I’d be this kid’s stepmom.

  “Flirt with him when he picks up Jett,” Savvy texts while the kids nap.

  I decided to have Jett snooze in my sister’s room with Pollux. This way, I can give Io my attention. No way will she sleep well if her green-eyed monster is in full force. Now, my angel is spread out on our king-sized bed while I sit at the suite’s round table.

  “Seems skanky,” I text back. “So right up your alley, but we’re talking about me here.”

  “Wear something more flattering than the potato sack from breakfast. We want him to know you have luscious lumps of the lady variety.”

  “You’re such a whore.”

  “Your jealousy is showing, heifer.”

  “Jealous of what? Your devoted hot rich surfer? Why, when I have the mild interest of a single dad with anger issues?”

  “Don’t pout. He’s very handsome, and he doesn’t look like Dad, so there’s that.”

  “Eww, you hooked up with a daddy surrogate. Freak!!!”

  “This is why I’m never nice to you, the bane of my existence!”

  “You got the worse ass.”

  “Your tits are lopsided.”

  “Your snatch is stinking up the state,” I text and sigh. “I wish I could say this to your face. Come over.”

  “No. You’ll start giggling like a deranged wino, and I can’t cope with that right now when I’m about to start my period.”

  I narrow my gaze, trying to intimidate the phone as if it gives any fucks. My sister loves to rub in how she’s the menstruation-alpha in our relationship.

  I have no idea what the fuck the gibberish Savvy texts next means. I suspect Bjorn is feeling her up while she taunts me. Leaving my phone, I crawl in bed next to my angel. Io’s curls frame her lovely face. She’s the most beautiful creature in the entire universe, and I still can’t believe I made her.

  Bran might suck as a father, but he gave Io her bright blue eyes, and his aunt is why Io has wavy hair. We made a gorgeous, complicated angel who owns my heart.

  Io is the real reason I haven’t thrown myself at Kiefer despite my desperate need for non-vibrator vaginal stimulation. I refuse to be one of those single moms, bouncing from man to man, trying to find a new daddy for my child. Io doesn’t need a father. Plenty of kids turn out fine without them. Plus, Io has a big family and lots of strong men in her life who don’t come with drama.

  And I don’t need to know Kiefer’s life story to realize he comes with a soap opera level of bullshit.

  THE ROUGHNECK

  Juggling daycare is a job in itself. When Kambree left, everyone in the Reapers offered to help out with Jett. But charity only goes so far.

  The local daycares are full, so the old ladies take turns watching my boy. If one is sick, like today, I have to stay home with him or beg favors off the club wives.

  “Take him to the hotel,” Heidi texts when I start her morning with my problems. “They’ll watch him so you can work on their project.”

  Heidi is a stone-cold bitch, and I’m fairly sure she thinks I’m a piece of shit. However, she’s smart-as-fuck. Her text even offers me a reason to inspire the women living at the hotel to watch a strange kid.

  Driving over to The Love Cave in my decade-old quad cab truck, I’m uncertain if I want Violet or Avery to answer the door. The first one is Maverick’s woman, and I get the impression she’s on the fragile side. Yet, she’s good with kids, apparently. Asking her for a favor seems like a safe bet.

  But deep inside, I’m hoping to talk to my favorite bitchy blonde. With a big mouth and hazy green eyes, Avery manages to be soft and casual one second before switching to snarky and scary in the next.

  And that’s exactly what I get this morning when I ask her to watch Jett. She follows up plenty of red-hot attitude toward me with a tenderhearted welcome to my boy.

  I ought to feel weird leaving Jett with strangers, but that’s how we’ve lived since Kambree ditched us. Back when he was little, she kept the baby to herself. I used to think she was a good mom, but I don’t know anymore. Can someone love their kid with their whole heart and then walk away like she did?

  I can’t imagine a woman like Avery getting bored of motherhood and starting a new “phase” of her life.

  Now, the sexy blonde is taking care of Jett. Just before lunch, I get a text from Avery saying he’s enjoying his morning. She even sends a picture of him playing with her daughter and nephew. Jett has a car in his hand. I smile at how much he loves fast rides. He thinks my motorcycle is the coolest thing in the world.

  During my lunch period, I call the prison to see if Handsome Sam can talk. With the right amount of palm greasing, certain guards will offer inmates special treatment. After he took the rap for her big brother, Heidi bribed the shit out of the men working Handsome Sam’s cell block.

  I sit outside the old firehouse turned duplex, eating my sandwich and waiting to see if my only real friend shows up for the video call before I need to get back to work.

  “Well, if this ain’t a fun surprise,” Handsome Sam says, sitting in front of the camera. He flashes me his perfect white teeth and adds, “I assume you missed me and couldn’t wait until our normal weekly call.”

  “I dropped Jett off at Avery’s place. Lizette was sick, and I was looking for Violet, but she wasn’t around.”

  “Whoa there, brother. You’re spouting a whole lotta names at me at once. If I understand you correctly, you’ve got one of those hot Majors women watching your boy. I’m assuming it’s the chick you’re a walking woody over.”

  “Yeah, Avery,” I mumble, feeling like a dumb kid asking his big brother for help. “She gave me all kinds of shit when I dropped off Jett.”

  “Women love to fuss,” Handsome Sam says and runs a hand through his still thick blond hair. “But she said yes, right? And she’s got the mama’s touch, don’t she?”

  “Yeah, she’s real good with her kid. I saw them at the worksite, and she can’t take her eyes off that little girl.”

  “Well, then what’s the problem, brother?”

  “I don’t know,” I mutter, scratching at my bearded jaw. “I feel weird since I dropped him off. Thought you might know why.”

  “Well, as your wise elder,” he says, chuckling to himself, “I suppose you’ve gotten so sweet on this girl that she’s given you a toothache.”

  “She’s hot, yeah.”

  “And now she’s acting tender with your boy.”

  “Yeah,” I say, thinking of how she kneeled down when talking to Jett. I never think to do that shit.

  “Now, these Majors women are ballbusters, I hear,”
Handsome Sam says, smiling at the thought. “Is Avery giving you Kambree vibes? Should you worry about going down another thorny rabbit hole?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Avery’s arrogant. Her family has money and power. Her brother isn’t friendly, either. That’s how they seem, you know? I’m not sure she’s like Kambree, though.”

  “Well, that’s your problem right there, Brick. You have this girl on your mind. She’s under your skin, making you crazy. Now, she’s watching your boy. All that’s making you think of how sweet she’d be not only in your bed but maybe she could fit in your heart, too. But then, she’s also giving you Kambree PTSD.”

  “Yeah,” I mutter and sigh. “I bet you’re right. I’ve gone too long without getting laid, and I can’t think straight.”

  “Don’t blame you. I hear the Majors women are good looking with a capital G and L. Men are built to get dopey around the best women.”

  Smiling at his tone, I shake off my earlier edginess. “How are you? I just hogged the entire call with my shit.”

  “Same old, same old in the joint,” he says, stretching his arms and shaking out his shoulders as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “I’m learning Spanish, you know? Got a class this afternoon. The teacher is a squirrely fucker who gets rattled real easy. Funny to watch him squirm, but he’s all good as an instructor. I can say lots of shit now in Spanish.”

  “Why Spanish?”

  “Learning’s fun in the joint, Brick. You were in here for a year. What did you do?”

  “Worked out and tried not to get raped.”

  “Well, I must be a better multitasker than you, brother. I do that shit and also learn Spanish. Got some law learning in, too, and I’ve been studying up about different cultures. Gotta keep the noggin sharp,” he says and taps the side of his head. “Have you seen my kids since the last time we talked?”

  “Raimi was at Sara Leigh’s house when I picked up Jett earlier in the week. She was dressed for dance class.”

  Thinking about his princess, Handsome Sam gives an easy smile. Raimi and her big brother, Caesar, live with their grandparents in Idyllwild of all places.

  A few years back, Handsome Sam took the fall for Gunnar and me after we got pinched. As usual around here, the prosecutor just wanted a conviction. Handsome Sam’s confession, along with a set plea deal, sounded like a good choice for the club. Back then, I had a new kid, as did Gunnar. Meanwhile, Handsome Sam can do time without breaking a sweat.

  Seemed easy until the judge slapped on extra time despite the plea. Not six months later, Handsome Sam’s old lady dropped dead out of the blue. Now, he’s locked up, and his kids live with his elderly parents in enemy territory.

  Yet, he just keeps on smiling and enjoying life.

  “Nothing else to do,” he always says when I ask how he can stay cool no matter how life screws him. “Being pissed takes more energy than finding the silver lining.”

  I know he’s right about my fucked-up feelings about Avery and life in general. Kambree taints everything now—how I see Jett, myself, the club, and the sexy new girl in Pema. I’ll never get out of this funk if I don’t let shit go.

  But I already know that. I always tell myself to forgive and move on. Then, I think of Kambree turning on me after all the shit I put up with from her. I view her as another version of my father. This time, I’m the sucker getting played, just like my mom was all those years ago.

  Once I see myself that way, my temper insists I never step away from this angry feeling. I deserve to be pissed. Letting go of my rage means Kambree wins. Just like my dad won when my mom let him walk all over her.

  Anger feels good, but it’s holding me back. I know I don’t do right by Jett, even though it’s not his fault he wears his mom’s face. In the beginning, he would ask for her all the time, and I would get pissed. Now, he doesn’t ask. I’m not sure if he got over missing her or he’s afraid I’ll get tense from his question. That ain’t right for a four-year-old boy to worry about, but I can’t stop hating that bitch.

  And now I can’t be in the same room as Avery without thinking of how she’s going to bust my balls like Kambree did. They’re too much alike—blonde, mouthy, bossy, and sexy.

  Not that Kambree is in Avery’s league. The Majors twins are effortlessly cool, while my ex struggled to be even half as interesting. In my head, I understand how they’re not the same people.

  And I want to know Avery. She’s kept my dick hard for months, and I can’t get it wet with anyone else.

  As much as I want Avery, I know I’ll never have her. Deep inside, I’m sure I’ll sabotage any chance at making something real. Maybe she’ll think I’m not good enough. Or Kambree will show up and fuck with my new life. Whatever the reason, I can’t create anything real with someone like Avery Majors.

  And that’s the reason I’m edgy when I pick up Jett from the hotel. I act put out by how he’s already eaten as if I wanted to cook myself. Avery just rolls her eyes at my attitude and asks if I need her to watch Jett tomorrow since the flu doesn’t go away that quick.

  “Yeah. Or Violet if she’s back,” I say, messing with her before she can do it to me.

  Rather than get offended, Avery glances back at her twin sister, and they share a laugh at my expense. I swear to myself I’m usually smoother with women. Except I was with Kambree off and on for a decade.

  I never needed to be smooth when we were apart, either. I just hooked up with biker groupies at the club’s current clubhouse, Belly Up. Those women didn’t give a crap if I was interesting or smart or care about my kid. They just wanted to lick my tats and use biker terms while we fucked. “Ride me, baby,” was a favorite one. Calling my dick a throttle was another.

  That shit won’t impress Avery Majors or her sister. Their dad is a friendly guy who kills people while wearing a smile. Vaughn Majors doesn’t make threats. He just kills people, no fuss or muss. Her brothers take after their dad.

  When I think of the family she comes from compared to my own blood, I’m struck again by how I can’t offer anything to Avery that she can’t get from someone without my baggage.

  As soon as she kneels down to get Jett wrapped up in his jacket and hat, I’m nursing that need only she can soothe. No other woman will look at Jett the way she does and then smirk at me moments later.

  Avery Majors is a special woman so far out of my league that I shouldn’t even fantasize about her. Yet, I’ll most definitely be thinking long and hard about her tonight when I deal with my walking woody alone.

  THE TWIN

  Heidi O’Keefe lives in a modern farmhouse she snapped up early on in her Pema life. I admit it’s a sweet setup with a bright white exterior and a wraparound porch with an acre-sized yard.

  Back in the day, I thought I’d like a home like this one. My parents have a big renovated farmhouse on plenty of land. But there’s something cool about being downtown, where I can walk to coffee shops and the park. And the firehouse will fit my tastes without being too big.

  Of course, I’m not here to talk about country versus city living.

  Heidi appears around the corner of her wide porch as I prepare to knock on her door. “No Io?” she asks while her youngest child—daughter Onyx—follows her.

  Mom and daughter are wearing nearly identical orange-flowered dresses and no shoes despite the chilly weather. I mentally disapprove of Heidi’s mothering skills but stick my mouth in nice mode.

  “I wanted to talk to you without focusing on her.”

  Heidi gets the message and picks up Onyx, who smiles effortlessly at me. The child is a little charmer. I immediately hate the kid for easily doing what is much harder for my baby. Still, Onyx is a pretty little girl with round dark brown eyes and thick lashes. When she giggles, I’m reminded of a non-sexed-up Betty Boop.

  Inside the house, Heidi’s son, Axe, reads a book on the couch while his dad sits on the floor next to him playing video games.

  “Babe, watch our angel.”

  “I’m play
ing with the bros,” mutters her dumb, pretty husband.

  “I was talking to our son.”

  Heidi plops Onyx next to Axe. She bats her eyes at him, and he starts reading aloud. Meanwhile, Jox keeps shooting monsters on the screen while his kids gently kick him in the back as they get comfy on the couch.

  “Well, that’s done,” Heidi says while walking through her house.

  I follow her to the back sunroom, where she relaxes with her feet up on a table. Yeah, she might dress like a slumming socialite. But Heidi O’Keefe is plenty capable of getting rough and rowdy with the boys. Kinda like Savvy. No wonder they can’t stand each other.

  “I want to talk about Kiefer,” I say, sitting in a seat with a view of the quiet backyard where her dogs play.

  “Come to thank me for sticking your hot ass next to his at the church service?” Heidi asks, smirking at her witchy ways. “I figured the right kind of pussy would settle him down.”

  “We haven’t fucked,” I say and then shrug. “Yet.”

  “Why not? Did Io break something on her way out?”

  “Can I take shots at your kids in relation to your cooch?”

  “Feel free. I have thick skin,” she says before shrugging. “Unless I’m on my period. Then, everything annoys me. I need a new birth control pill, no doubt.”

  “Sure, that’s fascinating. However, since I spend all day with other women discussing our pussies, maybe you and I could talk about why I’m here.”

  Heidi narrows her dark eyes, proving her skin isn’t so thick. I suspect she wants girlfriends to bullshit with. However, the Pema old ladies don’t like her, while she views them as the staff’s wives. Those relationships were created before she got hooked up and made babies. Though she now probably wishes to talk about “girl stuff,” Heidi drove away her potential gal pals. Then again, she has her sister-in-law, Vi, so maybe that’s enough.

  “What do you want to know about Kiefer? Is it related to Kambree? If so, get comfy and I’ll explain everything I don’t like about her. I hope you have a few hours.”