The car ride was silent to her house, each lost in their own thoughts. Willa tried to determine the best way to deal with Sissy and came up blank. When Drake pulled the car to a stop in the driveway, Sissy jumped out.
Drake’s “good luck” sounded in her ears as she rushed after her.
Mrs. Stevens opened the door, and Sissy barged past her. Willa took the time to thank her then waited for her to leave before going upstairs to knock on Sissy’s door.
“Go away!”
Willa didn’t want to wake the rest of the children. Leaning her forehead against the door, she admitted defeat for now.
“Go to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.” She kept her voice low.
Hearing no response, Willa went into her room, sinking down on the side of her bed. Then she buried her face in her hands and let the tears of frustration, hurt, and anger escape. When the last of her tears were spent, she lay back on her comforter.
“God, I thought I could do this without any help, but I was wrong. Anything you could do to help, I would appreciate.” Her swollen eyes closed in exhaustion then opened quickly. “And if there was any way to make Sissy like me, I’ll never miss church again.”
* * *
“That sweet piece of ass live in town?” Moon asked, still staring at the door Rider was watching Willa through.
Lucky’s teeth ground together, leaving Rider to answer his question.
“Yeah.”
“And you fuck-wads haven’t brought her into the club?”
“No,” Lucky managed to answer this time. “She’s not the type.”
Moon burst into laughter. “Are you fucking kidding me? Did you see those tits when you tried to cop a feel? The least you motherfuckers could have done was to introduce me to her. The next time I see her, I’ll introduce myself.”
“Stay away from her.” Lucky’s body went taut. “You’re in enough hot water in Ohio from fucking the wrong woman.”
“Sweet tits daddy the mayor?”
“No.”
“Then who’s going to give me shit? You should be kissing my ass for trying to accomplish what you haven’t had the balls to do. By the time I head back to Ohio, she’ll be our newest member.”
If any other brother was doing the bragging, Lucky would doubt they would be successful with Willa. However, Moon was notorious for his skills with women. He had been given his nickname because the brothers all joked, when the moon came up, the women’s panties dropped. They were attracted to him like flies to a corpse.
“I am.” Lucky’s voice dripped ice.
“Since when do you care who I fuck?”
“Since you think you’re going to fuck Willa.”
“The Last Riders share, and you’ve never had a problem with it before.”
“I’ll share any woman you want, just not Willa. She’s not ours to share,” he reasoned.
“Yet,” Rider broke in. “I agree with Moon. He may be able to convince her to join. He’s new to town, so she may lower her guard with him.”
Lucky glared at Rider’s anticipatory grin.
“Never.” Lucky blasted both men with a heated glare. “Besides, she’s seeing someone,” Lucky threw out another attempt to dissuade the two men.
Knox was standing by, watching the men impassively.
“Who?” Rider grumbled.
“Drake.”
“You sure? I know they had lunch together, but I don’t think they’re together.”
Rider’s perception of the relationship between Drake and Willa loosened a knot in his stomach he had been unaware of.
Lucky shrugged. “How do I know? It’s not like we’re best friends.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.” Moon slapped Rider on the back. “Sit back and watch the master at work.”
Lucky frowned. “It’s not going to be as easy as you think.”
“Why not?”
Moon’s attitude toward Willa had gradually been getting on his frayed nerves, but his cocky arrogance was the last straw. Lucky turned on his heel, he had to blink several times to clear the red mist of fury nearly blinding him. He stood in the doorway as Drake’s car pulled onto the road.
“Don’t worry, brother; I’ll make sure you get a taste.”
Moon’s voice behind him released the fury that Lucky had been holding back. Without thinking, Lucky swung around.
“Willa wouldn’t look at you on a good day.”
“Brother, it must be my day then ‘cause she was looking,” Moon retorted.
“Only because I was standing in front of you. Everyone in town knows it’s me she wants,” Lucky ground out, trying to convince himself that Willa wouldn’t be swayed by Moon.
Rider shook his head. “I don’t know about that.”
“Shut up.” Lucky’s scowl had Rider taking a step closer to Knox.
“Is that a challenge? Let’s make a bet, brother. The first one who manages to get sweet tits in bed gets the pick of Rider’s bikes.”
“Fuck no!” Rider shouted. “Why should I give up one of my bikes?”
“You getting anywhere with her?” Moon surveyed him critically.
“No,” Rider admitted.
“That’s why. Isn’t getting that bitch to become a member worth giving up a bike?”
Rider’s face reflected his dilemma. “Shit, if she wasn’t such a good cook, I would say no. I wouldn’t give one of my bikes for a hundred women, but Willa’s peanut butter candy anytime I want it is worth a bike,” he reluctantly agreed.
The chance to get one of Rider’s cherished motorcycles didn’t tempt Lucky, but he had no intention of standing back and watching Moon initiate Willa into the club when he had stayed away from her for her own good. There was no way he could prevent Moon from trying to go after Willa, but he could place a road block in his path.
“Fine, I’ll take the bet. To make sure it’s fair, none of the other brothers can get in on the bet, just you and me,” Lucky stated his terms.
If the other brothers who didn’t have an old lady heard that one of Rider’s bikes was the prize, all the single men would be trying to get in on the bet.
“Works for me,” Moon agreed with a calcula
ting expression.
Lucky’s fist connected with his cheekbone, knocking him backward and pushing several chairs over in the waiting area. Lucky then reached down and took a handful of his T-shirt, lifting him out of the chairs enough to punch him again. Knox and Rider both pulled him off the dazed man before his fist could connect a third time.
“Stop it, Lucky!” Knox yelled. “What in the fuck is wrong with you?”
Lucky shook him off. “Leveling the playing field.”
After Moon was helped to his feet by Rider, spitting out blood onto the floor, Rider stared back and forth between Moon and Lucky, his body taut, waiting for the two men to go at each other. Moon sat on the chair that Knox had placed near him until the brother could regain what sense he had left.
Lucky wanted to punch Rider for agreeing to put up a motorcycle because it would only incite Moon further. Moon’s bet would provide him with the woman he wanted with none of the work to actually get to know Willa.
Lying in wait for Willa at King’s was the most effort Rider had put out on a woman. Usually, he sat back and let someone else lead his prey to him. As a result, Lucky wasn’t worried that Rider would get near enough to Willa to seduce the woman, because he lacked the one thing that would lure Willa to his bed.
Lucky stormed from the police station before he changed his mind and taught Rider his own lesson. Reaching his bike, Lucky managed to calm his raging fury. With his hands on his handlebars, he sat facing the church that was completely dark.
“I won’t be led back to you.” Unconsciously, Lucky lowered his head. “For years, I’ve watched and waited as others lived the life I wanted. I can’t live the life I would have to in order to serve You. Let me go.”
Lucky raised his head, and the invisible thread that always seemed wound around him felt like it was suddenly released. Blood rushed through his veins, his heart pounding as Lucky felt the last tie holding him back evaporate. He breathed in as if his lungs were no longer constricted for the first time in years. Lucky breathed in deeply again then released it, tasting freedom on the tip of his tongue.
Starting his bike, he pulled out of the parking lot, riding away from the church without glancing back.