You’re also supposed to take ownership for what it’s done to your life, as well as the life of others.
I’m not one for blanket apologies—or apologies in general—and I’m still pissed, but I figure I can at least make the first move. Which means I should probably talk to Ouray too.
Instead of driving home to the apartments, I head up the mountain to the club and am surprised to see more than the usual number of bikes parked out front.
The clubhouse is crowded and I immediately recognize some Mesa Riders. I haven’t seen these guys since before I went to Denver and have to wave off offers of booze as I make my way to the bar, where I know I’ll find Red.
Not just Red, but Ginger as well, as it turns out. She squeals when she sees me and launches herself at me, planting a wet kiss on my lips before I can avoid it. I untangle her arms from around my neck and try to set her back, glancing over at a grinning Red.
“Brother,” he rumbles, clapping me on the shoulder. “I should probably be pissed as fuck my ol’ lady is more excited to see you than she gets for me, but you know me—whatever keeps her happy.”
“About that,” I hook in, determined not to let this get uncomfortable. Or more uncomfortable.
“Get my man a Jack, will ya?” Red orders Wapi, who is manning the bar. The cub darts his eyes at me and give a sharp shake of my head.
“Not drinking, Red,” I remind him, trying to ignore Ginger, who is wrapping her arms around my midsection again.
“Fuck,” the big man says, slapping the palm of hand to his forehead. “Forgot.”
“I’m done partying, my friend.”
Once again I unwrap Ginger’s arms and turn out of her hold, just in time to see Lissie walking in the door. I’m about to make my way over when I see Ouray beat me to it. He brings her over and I automatically tag her behind the neck and bend down to brush her lips.
“Nice surprise, Babe.” I look down in her smiling eyes and it takes me a second to notice a change in the air.
“Really?” Ouray rubs his face with his hands. “A cop? Fuck me. All we need now is a CIA agent.”
“I’ll get right on that, Chief,” Wapi jokes.
Red has pulled his wife to his side when I glance over, a grin on his face. Ginger looks less happy, but she’ll deal.
“I’m still on the clock,” Lissie whispers, leaning close.
“Red, meet Detective Bucco,” Ouray announces. “You can use my office if you like.”
I’m a little uneasy as I watch Red lead Lissie down the hall at the back.
“Worried?” Ouray taunts, a grin on his face.
“Fuck off,” I grumble as he walks away, chuckling.
“So when did this happen?”
Ginger steps up beside me. Still a stunning woman but no longer as enticing as I once thought her to be.
“Not sure what it is yet,” I admit, my eyes still trained down the hall where Lissie and Red just disappeared inside Ouray’s office.
“It’s clearly something.”
“Mmm.”
“Does she play?”
My head snaps around at her question. I can see she’s partly teasing as she tries to hide a smile, but I can’t hold back my knee-jerk reaction.
“No fucking way.”
CHAPTER 9
Yuma
I’VE RESIGNED MYSELF to the kids’ corner.
The beer smell isn’t as prevalent here and I’m closer to Ouray’s office, where Lissie and Red have been holed up for almost half an hour now.
Kiara is sidled up beside me on the sectional, her head resting against my arm as I’m playing some racing game with the boys. Ezrah, Thomas, and Michael. A couple of the other boys are playing pool with Ouray’s son, Ahiga, overseeing.
Not counting Ahiga, or Ezrah and Kiara since they live with their nana, there are currently four kids in the club’s care. Some of the boys are reunited with family, or in rare cases are adopted. Some, like Wapi, come in as young boys and stick around. Others yet leave when they turn eighteen.
I’m the only one born into the club. I was just a kid when Nosh brought home the first of the club’s lost boys: a rough-looking, lanky teenager my parents baptized Ouray. The man who ultimately started paying it forward when he took the gavel.
Lisa leans over me, checking her granddaughter.
“She sleeping?” she asks softly.
“Almost.”
“I’m about to put dinner on the table, can you herd the little ones into the kitchen for dinner in a couple of minutes?”
“Sure.”
“Yuma?”
I