“You never answer my questions,” I shot back. “Cade, it has to be full disclosure with me, I can’t be one of those women who doesn’t question where her man has been, why he carries a weapon. I’ve been one of those women. Didn’t work out so hot.”
Cade’s eyes darkened and I felt his fury. I knew he hated what happened to me, I didn’t like to throw it in his face, but he needed to understand.
“Shit, baby. You’re not going to like what I have to say, the club ain’t boy scouts.”
“I figured that,” I replied. “Full disclosure, Cade.”
He stared at me a beat then pushed away from the door, running his hand through his hair. I tried not to get distracted by his naked body and I managed.
Barely.
He pulled me to him, directing both of us back onto the bed. He then positioned me atop of him, so I was straddling him and he sat up, hands circling my body.
“This might make you reconsider things between us,” Cade told me seriously, expression grave.
“It would take a lot to make me want to walk away from you,” I whispered and his eyes flared.
He sighed then started talking. “The MC was founded by my grandfather and a couple of his buddies when they got back from Vietnam,” he began.
I was already surprised. I didn’t know much about club politics, but knowing he was the grandson of one of the club’s founding members made him pretty important.
“Think they were lost after the war, didn’t come from the best families, they were brothers. Maybe not in blood, but in every other way that mattered. The war changed them, they came back, didn’t know where they fit back into the normal world. They definitely weren’t cut out for nine to five jobs. So they formed the Sons, with the garage for a start, they then moved into other areas — they also ran and sold guns.”
Cade watched me closely, his arms were tight around me, as though he was preparing for me to try to run from the room. I stayed put. I was shocked. I didn’t expect the club to be law abiding citizens, but running guns? That shit was serious. And dangerous.
“They made alliances with some heavy hitters, made a lot of money and made a name for themselves. My father took over when my grandfather died of cancer. They were liked around town though, people respected my father, they felt protected by the club. You see, even though they were breaking the law, anything that happened in Amber was under their watch. They didn’t stand for drugs, the town was kept safe from shit spilling over from the big cities.”
He was trying to convince me that even though they were criminals, they still cared about their town.
“My father was good friends with the sheriff, Bill. Crawford’s father.”
I raised my eyebrows. Well, shit. Both boys followed in their father’s footsteps. And a sheriff, friends with a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang?
“Bill knew the club was up to shit, but turned a blind eye, as long as shit didn’t spill into his town, there was an uneasy understanding. So the club grew, more brothers joined, got charters around the country. I watched the club grow, all I wanted to do was get patched in, soon as I could. Then shit went down with the Spiders, a rival gang who didn’t like the Sons controlling a big portion of weapon sales on the West Coast.”
Whoa, that sounded serious. I thought about the damage those guns did, killing people, widowing women like Rosa. My jaw hardened.
Cade noticed, his body stiffening but he carried on. “Things came to a head when I was fifteen, a year off being able to prospect with the club. The Spiders attacked the club when they were on a run, hell of a firefight, my father was killed, among others.”
Cade spoke clinically, his voice emotionless. I saw that it still hurt him though, those wounds hadn’t healed.
I stroked his face softly. “I’m so sorry, Cade,” I whispered.
“Long time ago, Gwen. I’m good with it,” he lied. “Anyway, with my father dead and me being too young to take over the club, Steg stepped up. He was my father’s best friend. Ruthless bastard, but I respected him, hell, I looked up to all the brothers. He was power hungry though, shit, still is. Some of the brothers were hesitant about keeping in the gun business after losing friends.”
He looked at me, I nodded to keep him going.
“Others wanted revenge. I admit, I was a fucked up teenager full of anger, I wanted to kill every one of those motherfuckers. Steg’s a real smooth talker, he kept everyone in the business, the money was too sweet anyway. He took me and Rosie in, looked after us, as well as he could.”
I was surprised at this, there was obviously something going on between them now, Cade didn’t seem to be feeling the love for his father’s best friend.
“What about your mother?” I asked carefully, remembering the woman in the photo.
Cade laughed coldly. “She took off when Rosie was two, wasn’t cut out for being a mother. Held her down too much, at least that’s what she told me.”
“Shit,” I whispered, feeling sad for Cade, not being able to imagine not having a loving devoted mother.
“Don’t pity me, babe,” Cade growled, face hard. “She was a crappy mother, did us a favor by leaving. Rosie suffered not having a woman around, but Dad did his best. She still comes to town every now and then. My mother. Stays for a couple of weeks then takes off.” He looked at me. “We’re not talking about my family history, though. You want to know about the club. What we do.”
I gulped, I did want to know about his family, but I needed to know about the club first. I needed to know if I could handle being around to learn about his family.
“Do you still run guns?” I asked, voice small.
Cade’s face was stony. “Yeah, babe, we do.”
My stomach dropped and dread crept up my throat. Could I deal with that?
Cade took my face in his hands, his eyes searching mine. “Trying to get away from the guns, babe, few of the brothers like the money but not too keen on the risk, especially after Laurie.”
I flinched at the mention of Laurie. “That was because of the guns?” I asked, wondering if I would get the honest answer.
Cade seemed to be contemplating what to say before reaching a decision. “Mostly, yes. Spiders have always hated us, but things picked up when we tried to cut in on some of their customers.”
So many thoughts were running through my mind, I didn’t know where to begin to process this.
“We’re going to go legit, Gwen,” Cade promised. “Been trying to get the club to do it for years, most of the reason behind the boys sticking with the guns is the money, so I’ve been acquiring legitimate businesses owned by the club to get us some of the same income. Garage does well in its own right.”
I was intrigued. “What other businesses does the club own?”
“Valentines, for one.”
Wow that was a surprise, a classy joint like that being owned by bikers, it made me smile.
Cade’s expression lightened a bit. “Yeah, that was Lucky’s idea, fucking goldmine that place.”
“What else?” My mind was ticking over, wondering about the sincerity to his words.
“Couple of bars and a strip club next town over.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Strip club?”