One Wild Ride (Lords of Mayhem 2)

“Hey, I’m game for whatever Jul wants.” Joey held up her hands.

“We have a dress that’s a nod to the little black number she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The cut is almost identical. The biggest difference is there’s no band around the waist, just one in the back.”

“It sounds gorgeous,” Juliette cheered.

“Wonderful. I’ll take you all back to the fitting rooms. Evonne and Hilary can get dressed and take a seat on the couch with Juliette. Joey, you’re up next to try on your dress.”

Joey coasted on autopilot as she dressed and modeled, mentally wrestling with the newly gained knowledge of her paternity. She’d done as Wanderer asked and kept things to herself while he got his house in order, but it cost her. Dumbing down the issues with her mother and keeping everything inside had pushed them apart. She and Moose made so much progress that this felt like a slap in the face to keep this secret from him. By the time she and the girls went their separate ways from the shop, her brain was fried. She ambled over to her car. The phone vibrated in her pocket and she closed her eyes. Please be someone I want to talk to. She pulled it out and huffed at the name. Wanderer. “Hello?”

“Joey, we’re ready for you to come down.” Her father’s voice sounded distorted.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Fine, it was time to pay my dues.” His gruff response did not lend to reassurance. “Like I said, it’s time to introduce you to the fold. We got some things going down and I don’t want you out there flying in the wind.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not reckless.”

“Josephine, this is important.”

The serious tone stole the smart ass from her. “Okay. You want me to come there now?”

“Immediately, yes.”

“Okay, I’m on my way. I’m coming from the north side, so it’ll take me a bit.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting.” He disconnected before she could say more. If she’d been nervous the first time she’d gone to the club, now she was terrified.

* * * * *

“Moose man, we need to talk.”

The worry in Hawk’s voice made him pause mid-page-turn of the magazine. “What’s up, Hawk?” He closed the book and gave the vice president his full attention.

“I was over at the Eights’ club, and I saw someone on the way out who looked damn familiar. At first, I chalked it up to one of those everyone-has-a-twin moments, but it nagged me enough to make me get a closer look. After that, there was no mistaking their identity.” Hawk stepped inside Moose’s room and closed the door behind him.

“What? You think they’re in bed with Peter’s men?” Moose leaned back against his the headboard of his bed.

“No man. I saw Joey.”

“What?” Moose clenched his fists.

“Yeah, I don’t know why she was there. I didn’t see her interact with any member more than the other. But it did seem like she stood by Wanderer the whole time.”

“What the fuck would she be doing with him?”

“I don’t know. But you need to find out. I’ll give you twenty-four hours before I bring it to the Prez, man. If you want to keep her, you’d best have a decent answer for us by then.”

Moose nodded, furious. This was the last thing he expected from Joey. She was always so open and frank. Maybe that was an all an act?

“If you need anything, hit me up,” Hawk offered.

The concern in Hawk’s eyes pissed Moose off. He’s probably feeling sorry for me. “Will do, brother.”

Hawk threw up two fingers in the universal gesture of peace and disappeared out the doorway. Joey had been quiet recently. He’d chalked it up to whatever went down with her mom. He swung his legs over the bed and grabbed his boots, growing angrier with every second that passed. The thought of Joey being a liar made his chest ache. She’d weaseled her way into his heart. A sense of shock and helplessness flooded in. This is what happens when you risk your heart. You become vulnerable.

“Fuck.” He punched the wall beside the doorframe. The sting grounded him. If he found out she’d done him dirty, the only thing that would keep him from wringing her neck would be this treaty with the Eights.

Her car was absent from her driveway when he pulled up in front of her house. Perfect. He parked, got off the bike and headed inside with his key. With the door locked behind him, he began to turn on lights, examining her living space with a fresh pair of eyes as he sought out any connection he might have missed. All he saw were pictures of her and her mother and the girls.