THE NEXT CHAPTER BOOK IS

Sinners MC Reunion

Chapter One

 

From Saber- Sinners MC- 

When The Sinners Meet The Knights

“Who the fuck are these guys?” Nix asked Queenie, as he slammed the door behind them.

Pony glared at him. “We’re the Sinners from Boston, who the fuck are you?”

“Name’s Nix and I’m part of the Knights MC.” The big man crossed his arms over his chest.

Queenie growled at the two men. “Put your dicks back in your pants, boys. We are all on the same damn side. We need to get back on the road and Danny back to his family.”

Danny looked stricken as he moved toward Queenie and shook his head. “But you guys are my family, Queenie. Don’t you love me anymore?”

Queenie brushed his blond hair away from his forehead. Then she reached out and cupped both sides of his face. “Of course I love you, little man. I have since the day I first saw you. But I’ve never made any secret of the fact that you had a family somewhere else and they were missing out on watching you grow up. I’ve been looking to find them every chance I could, you know that.”

Danny nodded. “But I thought when you couldn’t find them that I could stay with you and Paladin.” He referred to Queenie’s Grandfather.

Queenie slowly pulled him toward her.

He hugged her tightly.

“Danny,” Queenie said. “Grandpa Paladin and I would have loved that but I found your family today. You have a dad who has missed you so much and he wants you back.” She referred to Hawk, President of Sinners.

Pony, Hawk’s VP snorted. “You also got a little sister named Tanny and boy, she’s gonna own you once we get you home.”

Queenie looked over at him as she got to her feet and shook her head. “We’ve got to roll boys. We’ve been out in the open too long and the Greens will figure out where we were going soon. I hope not, but Duggen would know by now where I went.” She paused and stared at Saber. “You guys can protect him, right?”

Saber glared at her.

Pony and Bandit looked upset.

“Hell yeah, we can protect him,” Pony stated.

Queenie held up her hand to stop the backlash. “Not saying you can’t, I was just asking. Our enemies don’t care if you’re a kid or a woman. They will go right through you to get to their objective. The Greens are an unusual kind of MC, they are ugly and just plain mean. Duggen’s MC Satan’s Lair is just evil like their name. The Green’s and their minions will charge right in, thinking they have the high ground.”

“I think we can handle the Greens,” Pony added.

Queenie turned to glare at him. “Anyone with half a brain could see you guys are prepared. But if you’ve never dealt with them, you have no fucking idea what they’re like. They have a one track mindset. They just take whatever they want and if you object, they shoot you, then they take it anyway. Cooter rules that MC with an iron fist.” She paused in her tirade when Danny wrapped his arms around her waist. She hugged him closer and looked at the men around her. “Ok, we’ve got to get back. We need to get him to his father.”

Chapter One

Two months Later…

Nix and his group finally arrived in Boston. It had been a fairly short trip but a tense one. Nix realized this reunion was coming out of left field but he also knew it was past time it happened. Paladin had told him he needed to do this but Nix was wondering if he was opening a Pandora's box that needed to stay shut.

He looked over at the other rider beside him, Riptide and prayed this first meeting would go well. Riptide had been looking for his father most of his life. Nix knew Hawk could put the two of them together and maybe clear the path but first, he needed to hear Riptide’s story and there was the rub. He might not ever accept Riptide but Nix hoped he would. Riptide was an ok guy in his books. He and his men had helped their MC, the Knights, rid the world of the Green’s family and made the world a better place because they were no longer around.

When Riptide told them his story, Paladin advised Nix that they needed to introduce him to Hawk and see where it went.

Checking his mirrors, Nix saw Paladin’s truck behind them and grinned. Paladin wouldn’t have missed this visit as he’d been missing Danny and Queenie something fierce. It hadn’t been that long but long enough. Now that the Greens were taken care of, there wasn’t any reason to put this trip off any longer.

As they made their way through the silent city, Nix wondered why he felt like his life was on the line at the moment.

They made the last turn and had a short street to ride before they came to the front gates of the Sinners compound. Nix pulled to a stop just as the front door opened and Sinners came out on the porch. They lined up.

For a long moment, the two groups of men just stared at each other. 

Finally, Paladin got out of his truck and stomped his way to the front gate. Then he yelled out, “Queenie, get your butt out here and greet an old man? Danny, you in there, kiddo?”

Suddenly, the front door was thrown open. Queenie and Danny or Caden as he was now called, rushed outside.

They paused briefly and Queenie yelled back, “Grandpa!” Then both of them rushed to the front gates.

Hawk and Saber hurried after them.

When they got there, Queenie and Caden were both speaking a mile a minute. They were so happy and excited to see Paladin.

Hawk growled and hit the code to open the gate. 

Grinning, Paladin rushed through the portal to hug them both.

Hawk looked over at Saber and shook his head. “I think they know him, don’t you?”

Saber nodded then laughed. “Yeah, they know him but I don’t know any of them except for Nix.”

Hawk studied the other riders and he looked troubled. “Me either.” He stared at Nix and asked, “What’s going on here and why did you bring them? Who are they?”

Nix was about to speak but Paladin beat him to it, “Hawk, this is someone you need to meet. We’ve known him a spell. So when Nix came back after the trouble with the Greens and the Lairs, we discussed it and thought we’d just show up and bring you two boys together.”

“Two?” Hawk furrowed his brows.

Paladin nodded. “Just wait till you see him, Mr. Hawk. It is incredible.” He turned his head and nodded at one of the riders.

Bigger than all the others, the rider reached up to take off his helmet. 

As he shook out his long blond hair, Hawk was stunned. It was like looking into a mirror as he studied the man’s face. “Who the hell are you?” he whispered.

“My road name is Riptide. My mama gave me the name Magnus Westerly, even if she wasn’t married to the man who fathered me. Who the hell are you?” He stood up on both feet and towered over the others.

Hawk could see how well built the man was. He stood at least 6 foot 4 inches tall and his chest easily matched Hawk’s own. But it was the other man’s face that drew his gaze. The resembalance was uncanny and his name, well that couldn’t be just a coincidence. “My road name is Hawk but my real name is James Dean Westerly. And if I didn’t know any better, I would think that I’m your brother.” Then his troubled gaze turned into a glare. “I’m gonna kill that old man one day and it might just be sooner rather than later.”

 Riptide rested his helmet on his side and looked at Hawk. “And just who is this old man?”

Hawk snorted. “He would be my father, Senator Harlan Westerly.”

 Riptide nodded at him. “Yep, that’s the man she named me for and although I don’t know him personally, I think I might just help you to kick his ass. But before we do, I need some answers and I think so do you.”

The rest of the men took their helmets off and sat on their bikes as they all had the same questions in their eyes. 

Hawk stared at them and slowly shook his head, then offered, “Well you better come in and let’s parley. Maybe we can get some answers before we confront the old man.”

 Riptide gave him a nod then looked back at his men. He nodded at the men on their rides.

 The riders rolled their bikes behind him inside the gate. 

Queenie looked at her grandfather as she sighed and shook her head.

 “What?” Paladin asked. “What was I supposed to do? I think they needed each other and I don’t regret it one damn bit.”

“Grandpa, that stubborn streak of yours is gonna get you into trouble one of these days,” Queenie told him in disgust. Hooking her arm in his and then in Danny’s, she led them both back to the clubhouse. “To get you up to date…Danny is now called Caden and he’s Hawk’s son. He has a little sister named Tanny. Hawk also has a wife Tula, so mind your manners.”

Paladin snorted at her warning to mind his manners. “Girl, you know me better than that. I wouldn’t bring bad manners to another MC. I always behave myself when I go to another club and I expect visitors to do the same in my club.”

Queenie looked at him with speculation in her gaze. “Oh, yeah? Then why did you bring Riptide here?”

Paladin got a determined look in his eyes and said, “I just brought two brothers together, is all. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.” He shrugged and explained, “When Nix told us of this man Hawk and how he could be Rip’s own brother. That they looked so much alike, I couldn’t help it. You know part of Rip’s story and how his mama’s gone now. Everyone needs family sometimes, girl. He’s just looking for a place he can call home. Well this is me just trying to give him that.”

They entered the clubhouse and Caden showed him where to sit. 

Tanny came over and hung back while looking at Caden then at Paladin.

Paladin looked over at the little girl and smiled at her. “Are you young Caden’s little sister?”

Tanny nodded but for once was silent.

Caden rolled his eyes. “Grandpa, this is Tanny and she’s a right royal pain in the behind at times.”

Tanny frowned and stuck her tongue out at her brother and said, “You’re a bigger pain bucko, so that’s like painting me with the same brush.”

Paladin chuckled at the pair. “I swear child, you remind me so much of Queenie when she was your age, you really do.”

Tanny paused to study him and asked, “So is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Paladin shook his head, “That’s a very good thing. I miss that little girl a lot.”

“But why do you miss her?” Tanny asked. “She’s standing right beside you now.”

Paladin nodded. “Yes, I know that but back when she was your age, she used to ask me a thousand questions a day. Now she’s all grown up and I guess she knows everything. So she doesn’t do that anymore and I miss it.”

Tanny nodded then told him, “She might not ask any more questions cuz you already told her all the things she needs to know.”

Paladin nodded. “Maybe but there is always something new to learn, isn't there?”

Tanny thought for a moment then shrugged. “Maybe she asks Sabertooth now.”

Paladin nodded. “I imagine she does but that’s a good thing for her and sad thing for me because I don’t see her too much anymore.”

“Grandpa, don’t you worry, you still got me in your corner.” Danny/Caden told him. 

“Wait a minute here… if you’re my brother Caden, does that mean he’s my grandpa too?” Tanny asked.

Caden shook his head sadly. “He’s not really my grandpa. He’s Queenie’s grandpa and mine because she found me and took me in.”

Paladin narrowed his eyes at the boy’s words. “Doesn’t that make me your honorary grandpa, boy? Or are you just gonna toss me aside now that Queenie found your real family?”

Caden’s eyes widened in shock at Paladin’s words. “You still want me as part of your family?” he whispered.

Paladin snorted. “You are and will always be part of our family. I know you ain’t blood, but you are still part of us, kiddo. Me and Queenie took you in, we gave you a roof over your head, and food to fill your belly and most importantly, we gave you love and that’s all you needed then. You crept into our hearts and that’s what makes you family. If you ever need us, we’ll always be there for you and yours.” Then he turned to Tanny to say, “I guess that makes you part of our family too. I’d be proud if you could call me your grandpa, child. Although I understand you already have a grandpa, I can be a spare if you like?”

Tanny grinned then turned to Caden and stuck her tongue out again.

Paladin shook his finger at her. “Don’t you go doing that. You shouldn’t disrespect anyone, let alone your own family and do you know why?”

Tanny shook her head as her eyes rounded.

“Number one, it ain’t nice and number two: Caden is your brother and there are gonna be times when family is all you got. You treat them right and they will treat you right. You got that, little girl?”

Tanny nodded.

“Now, you apologize to your brother.” 

Tanny looked down then swung her gaze back up with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Caden.”

Paladin looked at Caden and nodded. 

Caden went over to Tanny and pulled her into a hug. “I forgive you  Tanny. I guess we’re still learning how to be a family. But you always stick your tongue out, so I thought it was something you couldn’t help.”

Paladin paused at this and then he laughed.

Queenie chuckled too. She glanced over at Hawk to see him smile a bit, so Paladin didn’t cross a line anyway. Paladin’s way of teaching might not be right all the time but he did right this time. Then she looked over at Hawk and Riptide. Her grandfather told him he brought the two brothers together and maybe they needed to know of each other but she also had a feeling he probably just stirred up a helluva hornet’s nest. 

Saber had told her a little about Hawk’s family dynamics. So she knew this wasn’t going to go over well...not well at all.

Chapter Two

Hawk stared at the table while still trying to digest the fact that he had a brother after all this time. Also, to know that his brother was only a few months younger than he was? This discovery meant that his dad had been fooling around on his mom when she was pregnant with him. Harlan Westerly had always been a bastard but this just made it very real to Hawk. The man had become a senator, but in reality, he was nothing but a man-whore.

He looked up at Riptide. They were both victims in this situation, including whatever woman had been involved. Hawk felt sure she hadn’t known the full facts about Harlan upon going into the illicit relationship with him. This seemed to be a pattern his father followed all these years. Cheat, cheat, cheat. He shook his head. “So who is your mother and why did she give you his last name?”

 Riptide shrugged and asked, “My mom’s name is Claudia Harper and why not give me his last name? She had that much self respect at least. They were never married but he’s my father even if he never acknowledged me, he’s still my father.”

Hawk nodded. “Did he know that?”

 Riptide sat back in his chair and glared at Hawk, then he nodded. “Yeah, he knew. He might not have hung around for her or for me but he always paid the support he promised. She got her last check when I turned eighteen.”

Hawk felt the dread growing in his belly. His own dad had a whole other family and never told them. Hawk looked over at Pony and curled his lip a bit. 

Pony nodded and got up and walked down the hall to see if they could find any info on Harlan’s payments to Riptide’s mom. 

Hawk looked back at his brother and said, “Yeah well, there’s a reason he never married your mom because he was already married to my mother and she wasn’t letting him go that easy. They stayed married about twelve years but they were never happy.  In the end, she finally told him he was a lousy husband and he had to agree with her. She left us all behind and walked out but Harlan was never a good father either. He remarried his affair partner and had another kid then she ended walking out four years later. Then he had two kids at home and he didn’t really want either of us so he hired a housekeeper and went off to build his business and start a run in politics. My sister Lisa and I grew up and when I left home, I got into this club and now my dad pretends to ignore the fact that I’m here and Lisa’s husband  is running his business. Dad is still in politics and still trying to tell me how to live my life.”

 Riptide “Yeah, my mom always told me she knew he wasn’t a good man but she wanted me, so she kept me. She never said anything bad about him and the day I left her, she said I should just let it go. She knew I hated the fact that he never acknowledged me. She really wanted me to leave it be. Well I tried, I really did. Then a couple of weeks ago, Paladin told me he knew you were my brother and if I wanted answers, I needed to come here and get them.” He paused then shook his head. “I didn’t know if you would see me but I had to try and reach out. Hell, I’m not even sure what I expected, then I got curious you know?”

“Curious?” Hawk frowned.

 Riptide nodded. “Yeah, I wanted to find out if you knew about me, if dear ole dad had ever said anything about having another kid out there. But from the look on your face, I knew he never did.”

Hawk shook his head. “No, he never did but I’m not too surprised by that. One thing dad never did was talk about the important stuff. At least, he never did with me. Me? After I joined this club almost twenty years ago, he kept trying to get me away from the MC life. He kept telling me my choices were ruining the Westerly name and what it had become. His business and his senate post means everything to him, but my being a biker means nothing to him.” He looked around the room and shook his head. “The life we have here is a good one. I have a family here, my brothers, my kids and my wife. It’s a good life. We’re a legit club and we have our own businesses in town. I wouldn’t trade what I have here for a suit and tie life anywhere.”

 Riptide nodded. “I’ve been with a club and on my own too. I found Paladin’s club about four years ago. It’s a good club but there was something missing there. Then he told me about you and I thought maybe it was time for you to know about me. And here we are.”

Just as Hawk was about to say something they all heard a shout from the front gate. Hawk frowned as he got up and went over to the front door to see two men standing there. He grimaced when he recognized Billy Ray Looken standing on the other side of the fence with his son, Steven. 

It had been Billy Ray that was yelling.

Hawk and a few others walked outside and over to the gate, “What the hell are you yelling about, Billy Ray?”

Billy Ray rubbed his hand over his five o’clock shadow and glared at him. “I want my daughter back.”

Hawk felt a bit confused. “Ok, so why did you come here looking for her? She ain’t here.”

Steven growled and snarled, “Not true, she’s here alright.”

Hawk turned his head slowly and glared at the younger man. “I’ve never seen Rika here before. I see her sometimes at her job in town but as far as I know, she’s never been behind these walls and I don’t like you insinuating that I’m lying.”

Steven just glared at him. “She’s friends with your Talla or whatever her name is. Get her out here and make her tell us where Rika is. She’s in trouble and me and Pa have to drag her ass home.”

“My woman’s name is Tallulah and I’m not ordering her to do anything.” Hawk growled. “I’ve been home all day and I haven’t seen Rika anywhere on the property.”

Steven didn’t wait, instead he began screaming his sister's name from where he was standing, “Rika, git your skinny butt out here! Rika, come on girl.”

Hawk growled and said, “Quit acting like an idiot, boy. Your sister isn’t here.”

Billy Ray slapped his hand on Steven’s chest and growled, “Come on, son.” He looked back at Hawk and grumbled, “If you see her Hawk, tell her to get her ass home. She’s got chores to do.”

Hawk didn’t reply as he watched Billy Ray and Steven walk back to their truck. After they got in, the truck turned around to leave a cloud of dust in their wake.

 Riptide stepped up next to Hawk and asked, “What the hell was that all about?”

Hawk snorted. “Billy Ray Looken and his spoiled son Steven were looking for Billy Ray’s daughter. Rika and Tallulah are friends. Tallulah has offered Rika a place if her home life ever gets out of hand and she needs a place to hide for a while.” He shook his head. “But I haven’t seen her and I told them that. I don’t think they believed me, so we’ll have to watch for them to cause trouble.”

 Riptide stared at him and asked, “What kind of men are they?”

Hawk shook his head. “Not very good I’m afraid. Billy Ray has never done a decent day’s work in his life. Steven is a spoiled brat, pretending to be a man but both of them are alike…they like to drink and live like slobs.”

 Riptide shook his head. Waving his hand in front of his face he said, “Yeah, I noticed that neither of them like to bathe. Man, that’s just sad.”

Hawk nodded. “Can you imagine what their house looks like?”

“Not sure I want to.” Riptide shook his head. “But I’ve known men like that before. All they do is cry and whine about the life they live but never take the steps to change anything either.”

Hawk just shook his head. “That’s true enough. Although from what I understand, Rika does try. I wonder where she is and why she left?”

 Riptide shrugged. “Who knows why a woman does anything?” Shaking his head he said, “I often wonder about that. Then I remember my mother and can’t believe she did what she did.”

Hawk looked over at him and asked, “What does that mean?”

“My mom always had her own quirks but she never said anything bad about my dad. You see she didn’t know she was just his side piece until she told him about me and she wanted to get married, that’s when he told her he was already married. She threw him out of our lives but she did ask him for child support and if he didn’t pay it she would tell the world what he was doing. She knew he wanted to get into politics but she wanted support for the child he made with her. She always told me I was just one of his kids and that I had a brother a few months older than me, but she never told me who he was. When I graduated from high school and was moving out, she gave me my birth certificate and that’s when I learned his name. She put it on the birth certificate. Then she told me he didn’t want to know me and she knew that from the day she tossed him out. But she said she loved me and would never regret what she had done. Then she gave me every penny of his child support and said his money couldn’t make what he’d done right but she had saved it for my future. I still have that money.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Hawk asked,

 Riptide looked away for a moment and said, “I’m going to meet him one day and I’m going to cram that check right down his throat. He basically paid for her silence for eighteen years. For my entire childhood. He didn’t want to know one thing about me and paid her hush money. So I thought I’d give it back and make him swallow it.”

Hawk paused then he chuckled. “Yeah, like that’s going to go over well. Harlan thinks his shit doesn't stink and he’s never been held responsible for anything. My mom finally had enough of putting up with his bullshit and walked out but he wouldn’t let her take me with her. But at least she got her due for staying with him for that long. He ended up paying her off as well. Then he married again and they had my sister but Lisa’s mom walked out on him a lot sooner than my mom did.” Hawk shook his head and said, “Harlan was never lucky in love because of the choices he made along the way. His second divorce was harder to pay off than his first one and I think he’s finally learned not to marry but he still carries on with his women. This might be the wake up call he needs. In fact, I’d like to be there when you shove your fist down his throat. That would indeed be something to see.”

“If I’m still around here, you’ll get that wish.” Riptide nodded.

Hawk nodded then looked back at the clubhouse. “But first we got something closer to home to puzzle out. I have to speak to Tallulah and find out if she knows anything about Rika.” He looked at Riptide and asked, “Are you staying here for a while?”

 Riptide shrugged. “I wasn’t sure how welcome I would be.”

Hawk held out his hand. “You’re welcome to stay, you and your men, if you want to. We have a large place here, so there's room enough. Dad’s pulled some shit in his day and he seems to continuously get away with it all. So hell yeah, I want to see this through, right beside you. Lisa might not want to stir the pot but I do. ”

“Damn, so I not only have a brother but a sister as well? I sure didn’t expect that.” Riptide shook his head.

 

Chapter Three

 After a few minutes, Riptide went outside to his bike to collect his gear. Halting, he heard something around the corner of the clubhouse. He paused to listen but the sound didn’t come again. He shrugged, grabbed his bag and went back inside.

When he entered, he saw Hawk talking to a woman and he watched them for a moment. Then he looked toward the front door and thought about the noise he’d heard while getting his things. Now that he really thought about it…It sounded like a groan. Now, he looked over at his friend Paladin. 

Paladin had been watching him. He seemed to notice Riptide’s confusion. So Paladin walked over to the door to look outside as well. He shrugged then made his way back to the table where Queenie sat with Caden and Tanny. Shaking his head, he took his seat again.

Queenie leaned closer to him and asked, “What's going on, Grandpa?”

Paladin looked over at her and replied, “I think we got some trouble, honey.”

“What are you talking about?” Queenie asked as she looked lost. 

 Tanny had heard the fuss from Billy Ray and Steven then she shook her head. Sighing deeply, she leaned in closer to Paladin and Queenie to whisper loudly, “I bet those varmints beat Rika up again. They’ve done bad things like that in the past. Rika goes into hiding when they do and then they have to hunt her down or wait until she comes back, then they do it all over again. They are bad people.”

 Riptide overheard her and growled under his breath. Beating on a woman made them pond scum, period.

Tanny shook her head and went on, “Daddy wouldn’t let them do that if he ever found her like that. My daddy is a good man and he always tells us that men shouldn’t hit ladies… ever. Because men are stronger than ladies and besides that, it's not nice to hit anyone.”

Paladin gave her a nod. “Your daddy is a good man if that’s how he feels.”

 Tanny nodded and exclaimed, “He's the best ever!”

Queenie and Paladin both smiled at her.

“Yeah Grandpa, he is a good man,” Caden spoke up. “But it's been hard, you know? I know he’s my dad and all but it's hard not doing what we did when I lived with you guys. I mean Queenie is still here but she told me I have to listen to Hawk now and he…. well, just ain’t you.”

Paladin nodded and smiled. “Well boy, that’s understandable. He's your dad and you should listen to him now. I’m just an old man. I acted like a grandpa, so I spoiled ya. This isn’t my club and I have no say here. We had you for a little while and I tried to teach you right from wrong but now your dad is around. So you need to listen to him now.”

 “I know but it sure is hard sometimes.” Caden leaned in closer to Paladin and whispered, “And Tanny thinks she can tell me what to do too.”

Paladin grinned at him. “Yeah, I hear you boy, but you know females are like that. Queenie used to think she could order me around too. Sometimes, I let her think she could but then I’d just do what I wanted anyway. But I suppose you can’t do that here.”

Caden gave him a bored look and said, “Not really. I got Hawk on my butt, then  Tanny and when they get done, I got Queenie on my butt too. It’s a never ending cycle round here.” He looked up at Queenie and said, “No offense, Queenie.”

Queenie just raised her eyebrow at the boy and shook her head. She was about to say something but Tula came into the main room just then. 

Tula gasped and shook her head. “If those two hurt her again, I’ll shoot them myself.” Then she turned and went to the front door.

 Hawk was on her tail. “Tula, wait we don’t know anything yet.”

Tula turned and snarled at him. “We know enough if those two were at the front gate yelling and screaming for her to come out of hiding. She wouldn’t be hiding if she was okay. We have to find her. I know they beat on her again. But this time is the last time they hurt her.”

 Riptide came over to where they stood and asked, “What’s going on?”

Tula gazed up at him and with tears in her eyes she told him, “Rika is one of the few people in this town that never looked down on me. We got to be friends. But her father and her brother like to hit her. She always runs away from them long enough to heal and then she goes back because they got her so screwed up she thinks she has to go back. But she doesn’t. She doesn’t have to live there any more. So this time when I find her, I’m not going to let her go back. If she’s here near the club, she’s already made her choice. I’m going to keep her safe from the likes of them.”

Hawk reached for her and pulled her close to him. “If she’s here you’re right, she made her choice, babe. We’ll find her and she can stay safe here with us.”

  “But first we gotta find her,” Riptide said, then turned his head and called out to his men, “Come on guys, we gotta find a missing girl and pray she’s still alive.”

Tula and Hawk led the way as everyone got up and moved toward the front door.  Riptide and his men plus a few of Hawk’s men soon spread out, looking everywhere they could to find the missing and possibly hurt Rika.

They checked every nook and cranny big enough to hold a person. Even some that weren’t big enough but they couldn’t find her. They searched high and low for over an hour before they finally called it off. 

Tula kept crying and calling out Rika’s name but there was nothing and no one answered her call.

Hawk finally wrapped his arm around her shoulder and moved her back into the clubhouse. He kept telling her they would find her and help her.

 Everyone else also slowly started back to the clubhouse but Riptide couldn’t go in yet. It was getting dark out by this time but he couldn’t call it quits. That sound he heard was someone in distress and it could be this poor girl they talked about. He began a second round near the clubhouse and then he went to stand next to his bike again. He’d heard the sound here before and tried to listen again. In the silence of the outside, he thought he heard the sound again, only this time it was weaker. He turned the corner to look along the side of the building. The brush was thick in this area but he took his time and searched again.

Looking under the bushes, he paused when he saw a shadow there pressed up against the wall of the clubhouse. He parted the bushes and saw a black hoodie. Pushing at the bushes even more, he found a small woman hiding there. He grabbed her by her upper arms and raised her up.

 Terrified, the woman screamed.

He got her up as high as he could then he scooped her up, lifting her entire body out of the brush. 

She fell into his shoulder and cried out in pain, “Oh God, that hurts so bad! Please don’t move me yet.” 

 Riptide froze in place. He waited a couple of minutes then finally he said, “I got to move or I’m gonna drop you and these bushes will tear you apart. I’ll try to go slow but I gotta get you away from this area. Hold on.” He backed up a few steps and then he stopped again. “Are you okay?” he finally asked.

The woman opened her eyes and tears ran down her face. “No, I'm not okay.” She whispered carefully. “Did I hear my dad and my brother yelling earlier? Were they here?”

 Riptide carefully lowered her to the ground. “If your name is Rika then yeah, they were here but Hawk didn’t know you were here. Not sure he would have given you back to them anyway. How badly are you hurt?”

Rika snorted, then looked up at him. “You know something? Nobody has ever asked me that before.” 

The hoodie hid most of her face but he could hear the pain in her voice. He carefully reached out and tipped the hoodie back from her face. He paused when he saw the bruises on her face and neck. “What the hell did they do to you?” he whispered softly.

Both her eyes were swollen and bruised. She had a split lip and dried blood at the corner of her mouth. More dried blood also marred her cheek and nose. She shivered and hunched over as she sat in the dirt. “Steve needed money to go out with his friends and he knew I just got paid. I’ve been putting most of my check in the bank so he can’t keep taking it as soon as I get it. So last night he didn’t like that. I only had 40 dollars and according to him that wasn’t enough for him. I was more than tired of him robbing me and I blew up at him. I told him if he wanted money to drink on, then he should get off his dead ass and get a job. He blew up and started hitting me. Then dad got into the fray and he was yelling at me that I knew how the rules went… how I owed him for raising me and my paychecks were supposed to be for the house. He worked the first twenty years and my check was for putting a roof over our heads. I told him that wasn’t fair. I told him it was my check and it should go for putting a roof over my head not theirs. They could both work and I was leaving to be on my own.” She paused and tried to shake her head but winced in pain. “Oh, that was the wrong move. Damn, that hurt.”

“I take it they didn’t take the news well.” Riptide scoffed.

“No, they didn’t.” Moving slowly she looked up at him and her eyes widened when she got her first look at him. “Boy, you’re pretty big, aren’t you? Then she noticed his cut and began to shake. “And you’re a biker too?”

 Riptide knelt down face to face to her level and met her gaze. His hands rested on his legs as he stared at her. “Look, you don’t have to fear me or anyone else behind these walls. I don’t know how you got here but you are safe here. Tallulah is worried about you and we searched for you earlier. I found you by accident but she will be glad to see you are here and you're safe.”

“Tula? Oh, thank God. I wasn’t sure where she was. I was a little delirious there for a while, so I wasn’t even sure where I was.” Rika shook her head. “Can you take me to her? Please? I’m not sure I can even move.”

“I can.” Riptide nodded as he got to his feet and leaned over to scoop her up in his arms. “Hang on now, this might hurt but I’ll try to be gentle.” He straightened his back and stood upright. 

Rika groaned at his movement. Pain washed over her anyway and when she could bear it, she nodded at him.

 He carefully moved toward the front door. He opened it and went inside. 

As soon as he stepped in, the whole room went silent. They had all been talking about Rika and where she might have gone when Riptide came in with her in his arms. 

Tallulah and Hawk looked over in surprise.

Tula called out her friend’s name, “Rika,” as she rushed over to her. She stopped a few feet away and gasped when she saw what Rika’s brother and father had done to her. “Oh my gosh, they really hurt you this time, didn’t they?”

 Riptide stared at her and stated with a growl in his voice, “This will be the last time they hurt her. The very last time, because I’m gonna give them back everything they gave her.”

Hawk snapped his head up and stared at him. He could see the same determination in Riptide’s eyes that he often felt. He gave him a nod of approval then looked at Rika. 

Queenie stepped up and said, “Let’s find her a room and try to clean her up a bit. Then we can take stock of what they did to her.”  

Riptide nodded then moved down the hall behind her. 

 Queenie led them to a room the club had set up as an Infirmary.

Riptide gently placed her on top of the bed.

 Hawk, Pony, Paladin and a few others joined them.

 Queenie carefully attempted to get Rika’s hoodie off to see what the damage was.

You could see that Rika tried hard not to cry as the movement hurt her.

Watching her in concern, Tula kept shaking her head as she fumed. “I’m gonna kill those scumbags this time.”

Riptide never took his eyes off of Rika either as he growled, “You will have to beat me to it.”

Chapter Four

Rika cried the whole time but Queenie finally got her hoodie off. Her arms were marked with small smudges. There were bruises of fingerprints where her brother and her dad grabbed her when they were smacking her around.

When Queenie drew her hair back away from her face, they could see more dried blood that had come from her ear.

With a whimper, Rika laid back on the bed and closed her eyes while the pain washed over her then faded away. She finally opened her eyes again and found Tula watching her. “I think this is the last time. I can’t go through that again.”

“It's about time, girl,” Tula grumbled. “You’re staying here until your dad and your brother are no longer a threat. Maybe they’ll finally figure out that you aren’t their punching bag anymore. What was it about this time?”

“Money... what else?” Rika told her. “Steve knew I just got paid again and he demanded my pay. When I gave him 40 bucks he said it wasn’t enough. He wanted the whole thing and I told him no.”

Riptide growled as he listened to her words then he glanced at Hawk. “How long has this been going on?” he asked.

Hawk shrugged and said, “About four years now. Her old man thinks her money should be spent keeping a roof over their heads. That way, he can spend his money in the bars and on a turn of the cards. She’s also supposed to work all day then come home and do the cooking and the cleaning.”

“Sounds like they want a slave not a sister or daughter,” Riptide commented. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the woman on the bed.

Hawk gave him a nod. “Yeah, Tula’s been trying to talk her into leaving home for a while now but I think this time Rika is listening. She’s over 21 and she should be living on her own anyway.”

“She sure shouldn’t have to go home to that.” Riptide growled. “A home is supposed to be a safe place and house people who care about you, not someone who would turn on you like that.”

Hawk nodded and said, “But you know as well as I do that terrible things can happen within the four walls you call home.”

“Yeah, I do but they never happened in my house. My mom  wouldn’t allow that. She told me to leave my troubles outside her door.”

Hawk nodded. “Dad never brought his trouble home either but he wasn’t there  often himself and it's hard to grow up without someone settling boundaries, you know? The housekeeper meant more to me than he ever did. When I got old enough I told him that… the day I left his house for the last time. Don’t need to tell you that he didn’t exactly appreciate it, in fact he looked downright shocked. Then he claimed he put a roof over my head and made sure I never went hungry, he asked me where was that acknowledgement? He really had no clue. He finally got his wake up call when I left and refused to even speak to him at all. So he did a little better with Lisa. Then when I joined the army, he didn’t like it but he liked it even less when I joined this club. He was worried my being in a club would mess up his political career. But he did that on his own. When it became known that he was divorced twice, more of the people turned away from him and he had a hell of a time gaining back what he lost. He had to become an honest man for once and that was harder for him to do than he realized. He’s been trying to get me to leave the club and take over his businesses but I told him to go pound sand. I love my club and these men are my brothers.” He paused to stare at Riptide. “Now I find out I have a real brother.” He paused then said, “It kinda blows my mind you know? He’s never mentioned you or your mom before.”

Riptide nodded. “I never reached out before because I didn’t know if I wanted to know him or not.”

“So why did you now?” Hawk asked him.

Riptide stared at Rika for a moment then he turned to look at Hawk. “I ran into a friend of my mom’s about four years ago and he told me something I never knew. My mother had a really strict family before she met him. She thought she loved him and when she was pregnant she begged him to marry her so she could face her family. But when she found out he was already married she knew then they would turn their backs on her when she told them about me. The whole truth would come out then and she knew they would disown her for messing with a married man. The fact she didn’t know he was married wouldn’t matter to them. So when she told them what happened they did in fact turn their backs on the both of us. She never saw her family again after they threw her out on the street. Alone and pregnant, she found a job and an apartment and she raised me on her own. It was only after she died, that her family even thought about finding her again. Then when they did, they were too late. She was already gone so they looked for me and when they found me they wanted to tell me they could forgive me for ruining her life. I told them they didn’t know her if they thought my being born to an unwed mother ruined her life. I told them that she truly loved me and once she had a taste of her personal freedom she thrived and we didn’t do so bad on our own. They wanted to know me but had rules I had to follow if they accepted me into their lives. I told them no thanks. If they could turn their backs on their daughter just because a man she thought loved her had lied to, then that was on them.  I told them it was too late for them to try and make amends now. I wasn’t interested in knowing them if they thought I was a bastard all along. She hadn’t done anything wrong. They asked who this man was but I wouldn’t tell them. I told them it was none of their business twenty five years after the fact. It just didn’t matter anymore and the damage that they did would never be forgotten or forgiven by me. Their opinion of me didn’t matter either. I didn’t know them as my family and that never bothered me before so I wouldn’t lose any sleep on it now? They didn’t like what I said and berated me but I told them to go to hell. They didn’t want me then and I didn’t want them now.”

“I commend that.” Hawk nodded. “You would have regretted trying to fit yourself into their world and living under their rules.”

“I totally agree. I would have never ridden a cycle or had an MC if they had come when I was younger, because I might have taken them up on the offer. I told the guy I had run into them and once was more than enough. He told me he knew about that because he once belonged to their church and when they came back from that meeting with me they told the church just how far their daughter had fallen from the faith. They told everyone how disrespectful I had been and how they tried to save my soul but that I turned my back on them and their church. I told him what I really said and he just shook his head. That’s when he decided to leave the church as well. He broke away and it started a revolution within the church. More and more younger people were turning their backs on everything they ever knew and they were finding their own way in the world. The church couldn’t handle the mass exodus and is now on shaky ground. This guy actually thanked me for telling my mom’s family off and he was happier now than he ever was before. The man even shook my hand. That’s when I made up my mind to find my dad and suckerpunch him for his behavior.” He shrugged and added, “But maybe I should thank him for fucking her life up to the point that she was out on her own instead. Yes, it was hard until she got back on her feet but you know something I don’t think she ever regretted it.”

Hawk chuckled and shook his head. “The old man will never believe it, like I said he’s never had to face the music of his own behavior before.”

Riptide looked over at Rika and found her looking back at him in tears. “Yeah well, neither has her dad and brother but they will now. I’m gonna make sure of that.” 

Hawk nodded. “Oh yeah, that’s a fact. And I’ll face them with you as will everyone here. I’ve wanted to take those two down for a while. But this shit ends now.”

Riptide agreed. “We will make this right. No one will hurt this girl again.” He kept his gaze on Rika.

Hawk stared at him. Seeing the resolve in his brother’s eyes he just shook his head. “You look like this is personal.”

Riptide nodded. “It is, somehow. Why would they treat her like that? It’s because they are scum. She never deserved this and I’m gonna show her she has value in my eyes. ”

Hawk nodded. He knew his brother had his work cut out for him in that case. Hawk moved him even further away into the hall, so he could tell him the hard facts. “Look, all Rika has known is betrayal and pain since her mother died. She was barely twelve when that happened and Billy Ray just dropped out after that.  He claimed it was grief but after a while everyone knew different. It had been her mom that kept him on the straight and narrow. So once she was gone he didn’t see the reason anymore. He started drinking and that was the beginning to his end. Rika took over the household while Billy Ray worked enough just to cover the rent and the bills. But he drank away the rest. Stephan wouldn’t work at all but then he wasn’t home much either. He was out running the streets while Rika was handling everything at home. Then she turned sixteen and Billy Ray told her she had to get a job.  She struggled with work and high school but Billy Ray didn’t care. Whatever money she brought home went to him. He squandered it and then he told her she should just quit school and work more as the money she brought home was never enough.”

Riptide now looked even angrier as he listened.

Shaking his head, Hawk went on, “Tula told me she worked it out with her school counselors that she would quit going to high school but she would continue with working toward her GED online. She chose not to tell her dad or her brother but she would work during the day and do her school work after they went out. She finished school early and got her diploma. Then she also stopped bringing her full check home. She always kept some of it back. Tula showed her how to get a savings account and she’s been putting some of her check in every week. But after this she’s not going back to that damn house anymore.”

“Damn right, she isn’t going back.” Riptide growled.  “She’s under my protection now and if her brother or her dad comes around again, I’ll set them straight. Her money is her money and I don’t need it. But they aren’t getting another red cent of it. That just isn’t gonna happen anymore.”

Hawk raised a brow at his newly found brother. It looked like Riptide had found more than just family since he arrived here.

Chapter Five

Rika looked over at Riptide after hearing what he just said, “Why would you want to protect me like that?” she asked. “We only just met.”

Riptide moved closer to the bed and knelt down, so he could look her in the eye. “When I carried you out of the bushes I felt something and I’d like the opportunity to find out what that is. Besides, I’m pissed, not at you but at your old man and your brother. They had no right to hurt you and from what I understand, this isn’t the first time. But by God, it will be the last. No woman deserves this kind of treatment.”

She studied him for a moment then whispered, “I don’t know what to say. Except no guy has ever told me that before.” She curled her finger at him to come closer.

Riptide looked at her and leaned forward. She eased forward to gently kiss his cheek. When her lips touched his skin they both felt the spark between them. Rika leaned back but Riptide leaned forward and their lips touched this time. The kiss was gentle and easy. 

Riptide then pulled back to stare into her eyes. “Yes, we have something between us.”

Nodding shyly, Rika agreed with him. 

Riptide took her hand to turn it over and kiss her palm. Then he nodded. “Just know that I am going to protect you. I want you to heal up and not feel afraid anymore.”

Tears shone in her eyes. “I don’t know how to be happy. I…”

He sighed. “It will take time but you will be free and happy,” he vowed as he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Hawk walked over to the foot of the bed and gave them a nod of his head. “I’m sorry this happened to you Rika but you are safe behind these walls. You are welcome to stay here and heal and let us take care of your family. They will never do you any harm again. I just found my brother here.” He motioned to Riptide. “And although we didn’t grow up together, we both have the same feelings about men like your father and brother. They have to be stopped.”

“Please just leave my family alone,” she pleaded. “I don’t want any more trouble. Or for your MC to have any either. Not over me. I’ve already made up my mind to leave them but I’ll take you up on your offer to let me stay until I’m healed.” 

“Honey, if I have my way, you won’t ever see them again.” Riptide growled.

Rika looked at him in semi awe. Then she shook her head. “Wow, I don’t know if I can believe this. I mean I came here to get away from them and I find you. Are you for real?”

Riptide smiled at her. “As real as it gets.”

Rika nodded. “How could this happen so quickly?”

“That little spark we both felt?’ Rip asked. At her nod, he went on to explain, “My mom told me one time that that spark means you just met the other half of your soul. I don’t know where she got that little bit of wisdom from but she said if I find it with someone, I’d better pay attention and make sure I give the woman my best. I felt it when I pulled you out of those bushes outside and I felt it again when we kissed. So at least give us a chance for this ride.” He gave her a wink. “You need to just hang on tight.”

“But people don’t fall in love like that,” Rika argued as she shook her head in disbelief.

Standing on the other side of the bed, Tula laughed. “It happens more often than you know. Hawk didn’t think so either when we first met but I did. I saw him standing there waiting for me to return his daughter and I fell in love with him right off the bat. I didn’t know it then but as the days passed I fell even harder for him.” She raised her gaze to Hawk. “I mean he can be an asshole at times.” She chuckled at his mock-scowl. “But that’s because he cares so much about his club and his family, which is the same thing.”

Hawk’s scowl seemed to be faked as he smiled at her words and nodded. “Yeah, I knew she was the one for me almost as fast but she told us her last name was Greer. And at that time that name was a hateful one for everyone in the Sinners. Then we found out she was never a Greer but she was the daughter of one of our own. She had been kidnapped as a baby and the Sinners could never find her until the day she returned my daughter to me.”

“Wow,” Rika said, shaking her head. “I knew some of that story but that must have been one of those moments that hit you like POW!” She chuckled then winced a bit in pain. “It’s a helluva story.”

Tula giggled and said, “You have no idea.”

Riptide looked from Rika to Hawk.

Hawk shrugged. “Let’s say that a lot stood between us but in the end, none of it won out. Tula is a part of our family now.” He turned to look at Rika and added, “And it looks like you’re part of us now too. So like Riptide said, hang on tight.” Hawk grinned. 

Rika studied him and then, she looked saddened as she bit at her lip.

“What’s wrong?” Tuka asked her in concern.

Rika gazed up at her and said, “I think I know why they keep demanding that I stay with them.”

“You mean besides being a slave for them?” Riptide asked in a low tone.

She stared at him and placed her hand on his to explain it to him, “My mom wasn’t the dummy everyone said she was. She had a plan all along, a plan we didn’t know about at the time of her death. She died when I was twelve. She left an insurance policy with her brother but she didn't want my dad or my brother to know about it. I didn’t know either until Uncle Danny contacted me a week ago and told me about the policy and the fact that she left it for me. He said she wanted me to be able to get out of that house and have a chance at something better than what my dad offered.  I think she knew what my dad would do if she wasn’t around anymore. Danny also told me that he wanted to take me in after she died but that my dad wouldn’t let him. But I’m old enough now to do what I want and he wanted me to be able to make a clean break and use the money my mom left me.”

“So you think they know about the money?” Riptide asked.

“I know they do.” Rika nodded. “I’m not sure how they found out but I overheard Dad and Stephan talking about it. Dad said he was going to talk to Danny and demand that he turn the money over to him to put a roof over our heads. I don’t think Danny will agree with that at all. He told me he promised my mom he would hold it for me.”

“So how did they find out?” Hawk frowned.

“I don’t know but I can’t get it before my 25th birthday,” she explained. “And my birthday is next week. I don’t know much about it though, because Danny never said. Like how much or any details.”

 “We can look into it and see what we can find out if you like?”  Hawk offered.

Rika studied him then nodded. “Please. I need to know. There was so much going on when my mom died that Dad never told us about. It might be good to finally know the truth.” Shaking her head she added, “I know it won’t bring her back but the truth needs to come out.”

Hawk nodded. “Right now, you need to be taken care of.” He turned and pointed to the bathroom. “There’s a shower in there if you want to clean up. I’m sure Tula has some clothes you can change into.”

Tula nodded. “Sure do. We’re about the same size, so it's not a problem. I’ll go and get them.”

Rika nodded as she laid back on her pillow again. Her whole body hurt and she knew she needed a shower but she also didn’t want Riptide to see just how bad she was hurt either. 

After everyone else left, Riptide looked at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Rika shrugged. “I was hoping Tula or Queenie would help me clean up, but I guess that’s not gonna happen, is it?”

“I can help you. I know I’m a guy but I would never take advantage of you. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Rika shrugged. “Tula’s always helped me in the past when they did this and I’m comfortable with her. You might just get mad all over again when you see me naked.”

Riptide cupped her cheeks with both hands and looked her in the eye. “I need you to know that they will never do this again. No way, no how. I’d have to be dead first. Even then I think I would fight my way out of hell to protect you from them.”

Rika had tears falling down her cheeks at his words as she slowly closed her eyes and leaned forward into his chest.

 He gathered her into a hug. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered in her ear. “I know you want us to let it go but I just can’t. They hurt you in a way no woman should ever be hurt. I don’t and can’t condone that at all. My mother raised me and taught me to never hurt a woman and to this day I never have. It just ain’t right no matter what.”

“Your mom was a wise woman. I don’t know what kind of a woman my mom was, she died before I got the chance to know her that well but she never let my dad hit us when she was alive.”

“So she was good to you?” he asked her quietly.

Rika nodded. “She was the best. She was always there for me when I needed her and she always kissed me goodnight when she went to bed. She didn’t think I knew that but I did. It was just one of her quirks but it always meant so much to me even though I always thought I was too old for her to do it.” She shook her head. “I really missed that when she died.”

He nodded, then he told her a secret from his childhood, “My mom was the first one to call me Riptide. She often told me I was her riptide. All calm on the surface but dangerous under the calm. I didn’t know how she figured that out but she told me there was one time when I was growing up that some kids were bullying our neighbor, Mrs. Jenson and they had her all upset. They were moving in to hurt her when I showed up. I calmly walked over to the biggest one there and said, “What are ya doing?” He told me he was just about to go in for the kill. I asked him if he was serious and he said yeah he was. So before he could do that, I hit him once and the big pussy went down. Then I turned to his posse and said, ‘Anybody else want a go?’ Then those boys looked down at their leader. His face was full of blood and he was still out for the count. Suddenly, they all turned around and ran away. I got Mrs. Jenson back to her apartment and she kept thanking me over and over again. I told her if she had any more trouble to just let me know and I would take care of it. By the time I got back outside, the bully was gone. Later on, my mom told me she saw the whole thing and that I was her hero.” He shook his head. “I told her I wasn’t no hero. It made me mad to see what they were doing. It just wasn’t right.”

Rika smiled. “I think that’s righteous.”

Riptide slowly shook his head. “But why is that? It should be normal for a guy to defend someone who is in trouble. I mean just cuz you’re a guy doesn’t mean you have to mow over any woman, young or old.”

Rika shivered. “That’s a lesson not every guy learns.”

He still looked perplexed as he went on, “I never understood men who could live with what they do when they assault women, their girlfriends, wives or whomever. Be a god damned man for once and pick a fight with a man if you want a fight. But they don’t cause they would lose. They aren't real men.” Riptide clenched his fists at his sides. “Your dad and your brother are about to learn that lesson, sweetheart,” he vowed with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. “Come on, let's get you in the shower and get you cleaned up.” He helped her to her feet and assisted her into the bathroom. 

When he shut the door behind them, Rika felt super nervous. No, it wasn’t about him taking advantage, or about her being naked in front of him. She thought about his attitude on this whole thing and realized she was about to see how angry the man named Riptide could get. Her family had left her bruised and battered. 

No, the next few minutes weren’t going to be easy.

Chapter Six

Riptide helped her take her hoodie off and noted she had been wearing a t-shirt underneath. Her shirt crept up her belly and he could see bruises under it. He tried not to growl but it was hard. He just couldn’t hide his anger and utter disgust. What kind of men did this? Not men at all and one day soon, he would make sure they both received the same treatment. He couldn’t wait for that.

Rika turned around to see the scowl on his face and hurriedly pulled her shirt down. “This isn’t going to work if you get mad about every bruise.” 

“They beat you, woman.” He growled. “Of course it makes me mad.  I mean am I supposed to be happy about it? If that’s what you think, then I’m as bad as they are.”

Rika reached out and cupped his cheek. “I don’t know why but it matters to me that you care so much. No one but Tula ever cared before. I’m not sure if I believe in love at first sight but we do have some kind of connection, at least I hope we do. I’m not condoning what they did either. But they have been treating me like I don’t matter most of my life.” She shrugged. “I guess I’ve gotten used to it and that isn’t right but that’s been my life.”

Riptide pulled her close into a hug and wrapped his arms around her loosely. Tipping her head up to his, he said, “It isn’t right, not by a long shot but just know that it will never happen again. You will have a happier life as soon as I get rid of this vermin that claims to be your family. You’ll get used to being treated right like it should be. I found you and I’m keeping you and that means you are under my protection now.”

Rika stared at him. “Finder’s keeper’s, eh?” She chuckled. “I’m not sure I ever believed that someone like you would happen to my life. I…” She shook her head.

“Someone like me?” he asked as he clenched his fists at his sides. “You mean a male that would never raise a hand to hurt you?”

“Ok, Riptide, you're getting angry again.” She gave him a smile. “I understand but really what’s done is done.”

He shook his head. “No, it is NOT done. Until they are done.”

Grabbing his hand, she said, “I don’t want you to go to jail for the likes of those two. You hear me? They just aren’t worth it.”

“No, they aren’t worth much except as punching bags for me when I catch up with them…” He paused at the look on her face then he chuckled. “Ok, ok…I will try to tamp it down.”

She smiled at him, then said, “I think I need to call  my Uncle Danny soon.”

“Why?” Riptide asked her.

“Because I overheard my dad and Stephan talking about the life insurance policy my mom had. Danny told me they didn’t know about it, but I heard them talking about it 2 days ago. I need to know how they found out.”

Riptide looked troubled. “Hmm, we can check that out. But first, we need to get you cleaned up and then you need some rest and some food.”

He finished stripping her and he had to grit his teeth at the number of bruises she had. Then he almost lost it as he stared at the boot print bruise on her back. Who would do such a low-down-bastard-ass thing? He reached out to touch it but Rika hissed when he skimmed it with a finger. “Who?” Riptide whispered. “Which one of them did this?”

“Stephan,” she whispered as she hung her head. 

Riptide leaned closer to her and whispered into her ear, “Don’t you hang your head in shame. The shame is on your brother’s shoulders, not yours.”

Rika slowly raised her head and nodded. 

“Come on, let's get this done,” he growled. He quickly stripped off his own clothes but left his boxers on and they both stepped under the shower. Water ran over both of them. Riptide grabbed the wash cloth and soaped it up. Running it over her body he tried to be as impersonal as he could but he liked her curves. He was careful over her bruises but he washed her well. Then he shampooed her hair carefully.

 Rika moaned while he worked the lather up. “Oh man, that feels so good.” 

Riptide had to smile then he pushed her gently under the water flow so the suds could be rinsed down the drain. 

When they were done, Riptide shut the water off and just held her for a moment in the enclosure. “How are you doing, now?” he asked her.

“Better,” she replied. “At least I’m clean. That helps. And the hot water took most of the pain away.”

“Good, Let’s get you dry and dressed then we can get you some food. After you’ve eaten, you can have a nap.” 

Rika nodded and stepped out of the shower. “Wow, that all sounds good to me.” She reached for a towel.

 He grabbed it from her hands and began drying her off. 

Rika just smiled slightly.

 When she was dry, he helped her get dressed in clean clothes. Tula had dropped them off while they were in the shower. She felt a whole lot better. Then she turned her head while he got dressed and she appreciated looking at him while he covered his own body. 

Riptide noticed and grinned then asked, “See something you like?”

Rika’s face went pink as she nodded. “Oh yeah, I sure do.”

Rip grinned then whispered, “I hope you’re a quick healer cuz I don’t want to wait too long before we get together.”

Rika kept staring then chuckled. “Me either.”

He grabbed their clothes off the floor and when he picked up her hoodie her phone fell out of the pocket.

 Rika paused and picked it up. She noticed she had missed a call from her uncle. The text read to call him back right away. She looked up at Riptide and showed him the screen. “Speak of the devil…I wonder what he wants?”

Riptide shrugged. “Call him and find out.” 

Rika hit her speed dial number.

 “Rika, are you okay?” Danny answered the call right away. “Are you safe?”

“What’s going on, Uncle Danny?” she asked.

“Are you safe?” Danny repeated. 

“Yes, I’m finally safe. Why are you so worried?” 

“I found out your mom’s lawyer got a visit the other day from your dad and Stephan. Billy Ray showed up with a full copy of her will and he asked the attorney about it. He found out about the life insurance policy your mom left to you and he was pissed. After she died, the attorney only told them both about the parts that dealt with them. The policy didn’t make it to the reading because it didn’t belong to them and your mom asked him not to tell them either. When the attorney asked where he got the full copy, Billy Ray said he had a friend that got a copy for him. The attorney is looking into that right now but I wanted you to know that they were going to come after you about the money.”

Rika sighed hard. “Yes, we’ll you’re about a day late on that. They let me know they were pissed about it and I had to get out of there. I went to a friend's place and I’m still here. I have no plans to go home again.”

“That’s good. And if they come around here, I got my shotgun ready,” Danny told her. “I’ve also notified the cops about them. Are you sure you’re safe?”

Rika sighed then answered, “Yeah, I’m safe.” 

Riptide took the phone from her and he told her uncle, “My name is Riptide and I’m visiting the Sinner’s compound. I found Rika last night after she’d been beaten and she’s right when she said she’s safe. One of her friends lives here and she’s got about two dozen people between her family and her now. We don’t agree with men beating on women. Her dad and her brother showed up here already. They didn’t get far and they won’t even get inside the front gate anymore. She’s got protection now and that includes me. If they come here again, they’ll find that out the hard way.”

After a pause, Danny replied, “I believe you. I’ve heard the stories about the Sinners from her actually and I was hoping she would go there. I’m glad to hear that. At least she’ll be safe until her birthday. The only problem is the money is in a trust fund until she’s 25. I have final control over that but I’d like to add another name to the fund in case anything happens to me. Can I add your name?”

“Yeah, you can add my name,” he told Danny. “My legal name is Marcus Westerly.” 

“Oh and if something does happen to me, you have Rika question her own mother’s death. There’s something that just doesn’t add up about how my sister died. I wanted to ask back then but I waited until things settled down a bit. Now this can’t wait. If they did something to her, I want justice. For my sister and for Rika. Neither of them deserved what life gave them. I really hate that bastard Billy Ray. And I despise Stephan with a passion. Go talk to a Detective John Wake, if something happens to me. There is no time limit on a murder charge.” Danny ended the call. 

Riptide handed the cell back to Rika. “Come on, we need to talk to Hawk.” He led her out to the main room.

As soon as Tula saw her, she rushed over to study Rika’s face. “How are you doing, honey?”

“I’ll be okay,” Rika told her. “But I just got a call from Danny and there’s a shit ton of trouble coming.”

Hawk looked over to ask, “Like what?”

Rika took a deep breath and said, “Dad found out about my mother’s life insurance policy being with my Uncle Danny. I don’t know how they found out but they were pissed. They want that money and they don’t care if I’m dead or alive to collect it, apparently.”

Riptide nodded as he looked angry all over again. “Danny told me that Billy Ray has a friend in the attorney’s office and this friend handed over a full copy of her mom’s will and that’s how he found out about the policy. The attorney is looking into that. Danny said he has a shotgun ready for Billy Ray and Stephan if they come after him. He also informed the cops about this. Some detective there anyway.” He looked over at Hawk then said, “And that if anything happened to him, Rika should ask the cops about how her mom died. That there’s more to her death than is publicly known.”

Rika gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “What? Are you sure about that?”

Riptide turned and looked at her. Then he nodded. “He even had the name of a Detective John Wake. He also said there was no time limit of murder and he was determined to get the truth out.” He turned to look back at Hawk to add, “He was also happy she was here with you guys and asked that we protect her. I told him that wouldn’t be a problem.”

Hawk nodded. “I’m glad she’s here too. We can and will protect her.”

At the new revelation about her mom's death, Rika felt her knees grow weak as she stumbled. She almost fell into a heap on the floor.

Swiftly, Riptide swung her up into his arms. He carried over to a table and sat down with her on his lap. “Don’t you fret, baby girl. You're gonna be safe. I won’t let them touch you again and if there is something there about your mom, we’ll find it.”

Rika shook her head. “You don’t understand. My dad cremated my mom and buried her ashes. I don’t know if there is any evidence left to find.”

Riptide growled as did Hawk and a few of the others. That might make their search much harder but they wouldn’t just give up. They would look as deep as they needed to. 

“What can you remember from that time?” Hawk asked. “I realize that you were pretty young back then but you might know more than you think.”

Rika wiped the tears from her face and thought back to the time when her mom died. She hadn’t really thought about it before, being blinded by grief and only twelve years old at the time. But then she remembered something. With a sudden gasp, her eyes widened and she glanced at Riptide. Turning her head, she stared at Tula and Hawk. “Oh my God, he killed her.”

“Who killed her?” Hawk wanted to know.

“Stephan,” she whispered. “Stephan killed my mom. And Billy Ray covered up for his stupid ass.”