Biker Daddy (The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale Book 1) Read online

  “Yes, Erica doesn’t mind.”

  “Great. Then it’s settled.”

  After waking up from a four-hour nap, I still wasn’t sure of what to make of the change in my father. Grimm could always make a compelling argument. He was the prezzie of an outlaw motorcycle club after all, but I’d never expected my father to cave so easily.

  He had never bothered to take me to the hospital before, and I didn’t get my hopes up. But I needed to be there on time. Dr. Collier already had a strong dislike for me, and if I received several strikes and was deemed incompetent, they could revoke my residency. If that happened, I’d have to leave Smoky Vale and find another hospital to do my residency.

  To my surprise, he pulled up at four and drove me to the hospital. I had dressed at home in my white scrubs and opted to leave my tongue ring in. Usually, I removed all my jewelry for work as I didn’t want to make people uncomfortable, but today I didn’t feel like leaving my self-expression at home. My piercings were a part of who I was.

  “Ready to go?” Dad asked me when I stepped through the front door. He hadn’t bothered to enter the house and was standing beside his car.

  “Yes,” I replied, hurrying down the steps. “I like to get there early so I can settle down before my shift begins. God forbid I get there late. Dr. Collier would get on my case. I swear the man lives to make my residency a living hell.”

  “There’s no Dr. Collier in Boston,” Dad remarked as I slid into the passenger seat, and we buckled up.

  “There’s no Daddy Grimm in Boston either,” I stated calmly.

  “He could come to visit you.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think I can do with a long-distance relationship. I couldn’t wait to finish med school.”

  “I’m proud of you.”

  I smiled at him, his words working well to settle my nerves. “Thank you. I know it’s not ideal for me to be here, but trust me, everything will be fine.”

  We found a common interest of med school to talk about while he drove me to the hospital. If there was one thing we could bond over, it was talking about my educational accomplishments. Despite our difference in opinion, he never failed to let me know how proud he was of me.

  I’d always had a sharp analytical mind, quick to process and grasp information. Sciences always fascinated me, although most people commented that they thought I would grow up to be a lawyer. Instead, Joel was going into that field. Grimm might not be aware, but I knew Joel had been thinking like me. Grimm could need medical and legal assistance for his club. He had taken care of us both while we were growing up, and we had to be prepared in the event we had to take care of him.

  When we missed the first turnoff to the hospital, I let it slide. I just thought Dad was taking a different route, but then he passed another turnoff, and I became suspicious. By this time, he had fallen quiet, and uneasiness gnawed at my gut.

  “Dad, you missed the turn,” I told him.

  “Nope.”

  “Yes, you did,” I insisted. “You’re going to have to make a U-turn.”

  He didn’t answer but stared ahead at the road. Then I realized where we were going. I reached for the seat belt, but I couldn’t detach it while the car was driving.

  “Dad, this is not funny. I need to get to the hospital for my shift.”

  “Damn right, it’s not funny,” he answered. “You think I’m going to sit here and watch my son fawn over a goddamn criminal? I’m not going to watch from the sidelines while you walk into a death trap, Jamie. I’ll do what I think is necessary to get you out of this situation before it’s too late. It’s either this or taking out Grimm.”

  My stomach turned, knotted by worry and fear. “You can’t do this!”

  “I’ll do it because I love you. It’s my duty to protect you. Hate me if you must, but at least you’ll be alive while you’re doing it. For that, you’re welcome.”

  The big street sign loomed up ahead, announcing the number of miles to get to the airport. “You can’t get me on the plane,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest. “There’s nothing on earth you can do to get me to leave Grimm.”

  “You will get on that plane, James,” he stated, gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary. “Think about my peace of mind. Think about my career. Do you want to ruin everything I’ve worked so hard to build for us?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Grimm

  “If you care at all about my son, you’ll convince him that Smoky Vale is no place for him. I swear to God, Graeme, if anything happens to that boy because of you, I’ll personally see you to an early grave.”

  As much as I tried to shake off the threat Jamie’s father had leveled at me earlier today, I couldn’t. If anyone else had threatened me, they would have gasped their last breath, but Jamie’s father was off-limits in more ways than one.

  How could I blame the man for being worried about his son? Had Joel been dating one of the members from my club, I would have scared them off for good. Perhaps made them disappear.

  I wouldn’t touch a hair on the chief of police’s head, however, and not just because he was Jamie’s father, although that had a large part to do with it as well. Jamie and his father didn’t see eye to eye on most things. They never had, which was perhaps why Jamie had latched on to me from a teenager. He’d always looked up to me as Joel’s cool dad, but the truth was that I was probably even stricter than his dad. What I’d had going for me was allowing him to be himself. He was a beautiful and unique boy.

  My phone rang, and with a sigh, I fished it out of my pocket. Leaning against the counter of the bar, I swept my eyes around, taking in the biker twins who were wiping down the floor and tables in preparation for opening hours later tonight. They worked silently but every now and then would exchange a look that made sense to them while the rest of us tried to figure out what they were saying. Whip and Noose were identical twins and two of the last three patch members to join us. Both were tall and lean with short black hair.

  “Joel, everything okay?” I answered the phone.

  “Hey, Dad, all’s well this side of the world,” he replied, sounding breathy as if he was walking. “I’m just getting off work and heading on campus for my class.”

  “You still have that job?” I asked. “I told you to focus on your last year and that I’d take care of things.”

  “It just feels wrong, Dad, to use an outlaw’s money to fund law school,” he replied, his tone dropping. “It’s actually not bad at work, and I’m getting practical experience while I’m finishing up, so by the time I pass the bar, I should have already made some contacts.”

  His words gutted me. I’d always been Dad to him, but now I was an outlaw because he was studying law? A sense of unease settled over me. Had I created a monster in my son? Had I equipped him with the tools and education he needed to take me down?

  I shrugged off the thought. Lawyer or not, there was no way in hell Joel would betray me. He now lived in Boston, and there he had nothing that linked him to me. No one should suspect that he was an outlaw biker’s son.

  “Sounds like you have it all figured out, son,” I remarked, rubbing at a dark blemish on the counter that wouldn’t go away, no matter what I used. It was like my past. I could have packed up and moved to Boston to be closer to Joel, but like the stink of an onion, my past would follow me wherever I went.

  “Yeah, I admit I like it here. If only Jamie had stayed.”

  Just hearing his name brought an ache to my chest. “He’s just as stubborn as back then.”

  “He’s even more stubborn.”

  “Yeah.”

  An awkward silence ensued between us, and I felt my face heating up, which was ridiculous. I never batted an eyelash before at him knowing Jamie had the hots for me, but now that we had slept together, it was strange. Could he tell that Jamie had worn me down?

  “You couldn’t stay away from him, could you?” he asked softly.

  I sighed, unwilling to lie to him. “A man can run fo
r only so long, Joel.”

  “I guess it was too much to hope you’d be able to resist him and send him packing back to Boston. Are you sure you can’t get him to do that?”

  “I can’t force him to leave, Joel. He understands the risks, and he still insists that he’s staying. You know I’ll do my damnedest to protect him.”

  “I know you will, Dad. I just hope…” I waited for him to finish the statement he’d started, but he dismissed it. “Anyway, I have to go. I should call Jamie, but I’m cringing already at him gloating that he’s finally with you. I’m going to wait until I have a few shots in me first before I can listen to that conversation.”

  I chuckled, the sound more embarrassed than amused. “I’ll plan a trip for us there. How about that?”

  “Sounds good. Talk to you later, Dad.”

  I didn’t get to properly say good-bye as he hung up. Joel and Jamie were so different. It was a wonder they were such close friends. Jamie had returned to stay in Smoky Vale because he was convinced he loved me. Joel couldn’t sound any happier with his new life in Boston.

  While I was pleased he was happy and getting along there, a part of me felt like his home was Smoky Vale. That was the selfish part of me that wanted my son to be around me, but I wouldn’t entertain the thought. If one day I drew my last breath, it should be at the comfort of knowing that Joel had never gotten involved in my mess.

  As for Jamie, there was never a doubt I’d protect him with my life.

  “Hey, Grimm!” Whip’s attempt to get my attention pulled me from my thoughts.

  “What’s up?”

  He pulled a chair from around one of the tables and shoved it back and forth. “I think this one needs to be replaced. The legs are a bit wobbly.”

  I frowned, glancing around the bar area, checking out the chairs. We had lost quite a few during rowdy nights. As much as we tried to keep things peaceful here, there were nights when fights broke out. Chairs were the usual choice for weapons since none were allowed in the bar.

  “Fuck, I’m going to have to replace all the chairs at the rate at which we’re losing them,” I muttered. “It won’t hold up for a few more nights?”

  Whip shrugged, pushing at a lock of short black hair that had fallen onto his forehead. “I don’t know. Where do you think we can find someone idiot enough to test it?”

  Just on cue, Clem entered the bar, his boots thudding against the floor under his weight. Whip’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and he placed a finger over his lips.

  “Hey, Clem, you in a hurry?”

  “Not really,” he answered. “Just thought I’d stop by for a drink before I collect some taxes.”

  I ground my teeth together, hating that we still collected taxes, but that was Clem’s duty. He took delight in it, and if I put an end to it, we would just end up in another conflict. This one was tricky as all members profited from taxing business that were within our turf, and I might step on a lot of toes if I abolished that part of our club business.

  “Why don’t you sit and let me get that for you?” Whip offered, extending the defective chair toward Clem.

  “Fuck yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” Clem grinned. “At least you know how a legacy is supposed to be treated in this club.”

  Any inclination I might have had to inform him of Whip’s true intention fled out the window. He apparently didn’t realize he only was a member of this club because he was a legacy and not because I wanted him around.

  “Well, we’re still a baby club compared to the others,” I replied and watched as he settled onto the chair. I was fairly disappointed when the chair held up to his heavy body. “It’s not time to play club favorites and give special treatments. We all have to pull our weight.”

  Clem shifted in the chair. “That special treatment is only—”

  His speech abruptly stopped at the loud cracking sound that was promptly followed by him crashing to the floor on his ass amid splintered wood. It was hard trying to keep a straight face at the bewildered look on his face as if he couldn’t fathom why he was on the floor.

  Noose ruined it by giving a sputter of laughter. He slapped a hand to his mouth to stifle the sound, but his eyes crinkled. My lips twitched. I chuckled more along with Noose than at Clem. Noose was a special guy who almost never spoke. He was solemn, observant—the silent killer type. To see him laughing was a rarity I indulged in.

  “You fucking did this on purpose!” Clem shouted, struggling to his feet and getting in Whip’s face. He was livid, so close to Whip their chests touched. He happened to spit too when he talked. Poor Whip, being subjected to that shower.

  “Sorry, man, I didn’t know the chair wasn’t strong enough to hold you.”

  Technically he was speaking the truth, but Clem was having none of it. He shoved Whip in the chest hard, something I should have seen coming but hadn’t. We fucked around with each other all the time, as was only expected from a bunch of guys who were close enough that sleeping with each other didn’t make things awkward the morning after.

  Before Whip could react, Noose did. Clem was a fool if he hadn’t expected it, but gauging from his reaction when he found Noose’s rope, which he always carried on his person, secured around his neck, he hadn’t anticipated the move. It was damn stupid of him, given the closeness of the twins. So close, in fact, people speculated things.

  Noose didn’t need to speak. His stony expression was enough for Clem to understand that he meant business. He wasn’t beyond tightening the noose around Clem’s neck if he so much as made a false move.

  “Are you going to stand there and not do anything about this?” Clem demanded, fixing me with a glare.

  “He’ll release you,” Whip replied, massaging his chest, where Clem had pushed him. “Just calm down. Man, you don’t have to take everything so fucking serious.”

  I nodded toward Noose. “Let him go.”

  He slipped the noose from Clem’s neck and casually rolled it back neatly, then fastened it on the loop of his denim. Clem rubbed at the imaginary mark on his neck and stalked over to the counter directly in front of me.

  “I warned you about patching them as members of the Reapers, Grimm.” His fists gripped the excess wood of the counter on his side. “Do you think they’re going to be loyal to you first and to each other next?”

  “I considered your word of caution, Clem,” I said calmly. “In any event, the other members were willing to accept the twins in the club. You’re the only one with a problem.”

  “You mark my words that this is going to come back and bite you in the ass, Grimm.”

  Clem stalked from the bar, slamming the door so hard I thought the glass would have shattered.

  “Think we went too far?” Whip asked, cocking his head to the side, not an ounce of regret on his young, handsome face. His brother returned to the mop and bucket he had been using to wipe the floors. From his calm demeanor, one would never have thought he’d just thrown a noose around a man’s neck.

  “We?” I echoed with a grin. “You’re in this one alone, Whip. You’re the one who poked the bear.”

  “I didn’t see anyone trying to stop me,” he said, laughing. “Come on. I can’t be the only one who thought Clem needed loosening up. He’s been a grumpy sore point in everybody’s life. What’s his deal anyway?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to get into Clem’s history with him. “Everyone gets used to Clem after a while. I reckon you will too. Clean up that mess, and if anyone asks, I am in the storage room, doing inventory.”

  The storage room was through a door directly off the bar. It made transporting the merchandise easier. Inside stood a desk and chair with another chair on the opposite side. I lost myself in the work of checking off stock and making a note of orders we needed to have filled.

  While not every one of our ventures was necessarily legitimate, Grimm’s Gallows was as legitimate as they came. Well, as legit as it could be coming from an outlaw club’s purse. Back in the beginning, we’
d had our hands into several shady businesses, but as the time passed, I’d moved in the direction of getting us into legitimate businesses for us to make money.

  We owned a lot of shit in this town from barbershop to café. Clem and a few guys still got their hands involved in dirty money, but most of the guys were content making money without the threat of cops on their heels every minute.

  I was halfway through the inventory when my cell phone rang. I picked up the device, and his name flashed across the screen. Jamie. My heart lurched in my chest.

  “Hey, Half—”

  “You won’t believe what he did!” Jamie screeched into the phone. “He brought me to the fucking airport! The fucking airport, Grimm!”

  I hated my boy cussing, but he sounded so distressed I didn’t think now was the time to give him a lecture about his potty mouth.

  “Jamie, you’re rambling,” I told him. “Calm down and tell me what happened.”

  “My dad!” He continued to talk loud enough to be heard by the dead. “He was acting so nice, and I fell for it. Said he would take me to the hospital for my shift, but did he? No, sir, he didn’t. He pulled one on me and dumped my ass at the airport, gave me a one-way ticket to Boston, and told me to get on it.”

  “So why aren’t you—”

  “So help me God if you ask me why I’m not on that flight, Grimm, I’ll never sleep with you again.”

  Fuck. He knew me too well. “Well, he—”

  “Scratch that. I will sleep with you again. No need to punish myself too. Will you come get me, Daddy Grimm, please?”

  I paused, thinking about what to do. He should be on that plane, and Dehaney had done the right thing, dropping him off at the airport. He should have known better than to think Jamie would take up his offer, though. All he’d done was waste his money on a plane ticket that would never get used.

  “All right, I’m coming. Stay put.”