Needing Me, Wanting You(67)

The song comes to an end, leaving an empty space of silence in the busy sunshine of the day. I look over Tease's shoulder and meet Tax's eyes.

“You going to let us ride out of here with your sister?” I ask as Melissa pauses near us. I switch my gaze to her blue eyes, smiling big as I can. She knows I won't leave her here either. I'll fight to the death for these women if I have to.

“It was supposed to be an even trade,” Tax says, and my body stiffens. I got my .38 in my pants, so if I have to, I can blow his Goddamn head off. But I don't want to. I don't want our new beginning bathed in blood. “A girl for a girl. You're keeping mine, so … ” I watch that expression come back over Tax's face, watch as he walks forward and pauses next to Melissa. Hah, I fucking knew it! Triple M is cursed. Cursed, I tell ya. We got the fever and it seems to be spreading. Love. Fuck. What a disease. They stare into one another's eyes for a moment before Mel glances over at me and winks hard, that sultry smile tilting up her lips. Uh oh. I hope this man knows that Diamond isn't just any ol' lady. She'll give him a run for his fucking money. Tax opens up Tease's jacket and waits with a questioning look on his face. A moment later, Mel lets him help her gingerly into it.





Beck

Epilogue

After I said goodbye to Mel, kissing her cheek and wishin' with all my heart for her to find a happy ending, we walk back to our bikes and pause there for a moment in silence. All around me, Triple M'ers stand in quiet contemplation.

“I hope y'all are okay with this?” I ask, looking around the group. Austin steps up beside me and scans his eyes over the remaining forty members of our little group of outcasts, misfits, and fuck-ups. I make sure to catch Gaine, Mireya, and Kimmi's gazes. But they're all smiling at me. Of course they are. Friends till the bitter fuckin' end, right?

“Because if you're not, then walk away now. Today, we start a new chapter of Triple M.” Austin holds up his hand. “Motorcycles, madness, money. We ride the first, own the second, and figure out a way to survive on the third. I know it hasn't been easy since Kent's been gone, but I promise from this day forward, it'll get better. Life always gets better.” Austin glances over at Amy, and for once in my life, I'm happy I caught this particular disease. Love. Who'da thunk, huh? “Those of you that are with us, remember that we have to have each other's backs. We have to trust explicitly, love indiscriminately, and live like today's the last sunset we'll ever see.” Austin leans over and presses a kiss to Amy's pink lips. “Now hop on your fuckin' bikes and let's get the hell out of here.”

I grin and pull Tease against me, kissing her mouth with all the worry I had inside of me, all the fear that she wouldn't come back across that plaza and take me up on my crazy ass offer.

“Falling in love in a few days is stupid as shit,” I tell her, and she raises an eyebrow. “But I'm stupid as shit, crazy, too. So I think it works.” I give her a big grin and watch as she smiles back.

“Life is crazy as shit. I think we're right on track.” Tease pulls away from me and climbs on my bike, her small body the perfect size for the little Suzuki. Might be time for me to get a new ride soon. I crawl up behind her, sliding my arms on either side of her perfect body.

“Amen to that, sugar tits,” I tell her, kissing her ear and starting up my ride. One last glance over my shoulder shows me Melissa and Tax making out on the back of his chopper. I grin and kick off, following after Austin until we get where we're going. I don't expect it, not at first, but as we get closer, my smile grows wider. Hot damn. Hot fucking damn.

When our bikes pull up outside the dilapidated house, the one with the three car garage, Scar Tissue starts playing on the intercom system. A collective groan ripples through the group, half irritation, half relief. Wholly satisfied.

“You asked for a clubhouse,” Austin says as he takes off his helmet, waiting for the rest of us to follow suit. There's a nervous look on his face, but he's a smart man, I think he'll get over it. “Well, here it is.”

“Here it fuckin' is,” I say, pulling my helmet off and resting my chin on Tease's head, smelling her hair, absorbing her scent. This is going to take a while to get used to, but I think that one day, Seventy-seven Brothers might have a run for its money in Triple M. I tighten my arms around Tease and hold her as close as I can. “Home sweet fucking home.”

And I'm not just talking about the damn house.