ACE (Defenders M.C. Book 4) Read online

  “Hello Miss Cross. We are bikers not pirates so parlay won’t help you much, but if you would simply inform Mike here of who you are, he might see fit to let go of you.”

  Marty felt foolish, she took a deep breath and let it out in a puff. “I’m Marty Cross. Ace is my father.”

  It was as if she had said the magic words. Mike released her so fast she could almost believe he had never touched her, except for the throbbing that persisted in her arm.

  “Why in the hell didn’t you say so to begin with?” He looked as if she had slighted him.

  The other man broke in. “I’m The Inspector, but everyone calls me Spec. Why are the two of you dripping wet?”

  Marty could not believe this man was a biker, he looks too nerdy, but he also looked smart and she felt a kinship to him immediately.

  She shrugged. “I’m not a morning person…”

  He nodded. “He got you back.”

  Marty frowned and nodded. How did he know that?

  “I don’t care who you are. You owe me a bike wash and you can wear that.” Mike said as he eyed her outfit.

  For the first time Marty felt exposed. She wore a tank top and shorts but she felt naked under this man’s gaze. She rolled her eyes and snorted.

  “Fuck off.” She turned and stomped back to her room. Laughter followed her and she knew she had not seen the last of Mike Allen and he would make her pay for today one way or another.

  5

  Ace rubbed his head as he sat at the table. Preach had started church half an hour ago and Ace was ready to leave. He felt like shit and all he wanted was to go back to bed and sleep, but he was here because he had to make sure his brothers knew about Marty. He had to make sure she was safe. He caught Preach watching him and tried to straighten. The pain ripped through his gut and took his breath but he nodded to his friend and gritted his teeth against the pain even as he felt the cold sweat pop out on his face. He saw the worry in his brother’s face, but he wouldn’t accept pity. He narrowed his eyes and dared Preach to comment on what he knew was going on. Preach sighed and turned back to the business at hand. Ace just listened and tried his best to breathe.

  It was toward the end of church that Marty was brought into the conversation.

  “As most of you know, Ace has a daughter. I expect Marty to be respected the same as my girls and the same way you’d want your kids respected.”

  “Respect is earned Preach.”

  Ace turned to find Mike frowning at him. Mike was the most even tempered brother in the club and one of the most focused. Ace grimaced. There must be a story behind his hostility.

  “No. You don’t have to like her, but she gets respect. She has to give it too.” Preach was firm. He met Mike’s eyes and made sure he understood that he was to be obeyed.

  “She has to give it? I’ll believe it when I see it. I had the misfortune of meeting her.”

  The brothers were quiet. Mike rarely spoke out and never with any heat. Ace looked up to find Law watching him closely. He saw respect in Law’s eyes and knew his brother would protect Marty. Law was a hard man, but he respected Ace. They respected each other. Law always had his back and Law was one man nobody crossed, nobody. It helped lessen his worry over Marty.

  “I’ll talk to Marty. She isn’t used to club life yet. I’ll make sure she know that she has to respect the brothers unless they cross a line. That’s my job. But you cross a line and she can gut you with my blessing. I take responsibility for her and anything she does.”

  Ace hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake. He had just told the brothers that if Marty stepped over the line they should blame him instead of her. They all nodded as if that sealed the issue, and he hoped she wouldn’t let him down.

  Preach ended church and the brothers left the room. Law stayed along with Preach.

  “I don’t like secrets Ace. I never have.” Law leaned back in his chair as he studied his friend. His voice was deceptively even, but Ace knew better than to trust that.

  Ace laughed. “She was a secret to me too, but I’m glad I found out. She sure is like her mama. I think Nikki will like her.”

  Law frowned. “Marty isn’t the secret I’m talking about Ace so cut the bullshit right fucking now. How long have you been fucking sick?”

  Ace closed his eyes. He should have known Law would notice. He knew Spec had figured it out and probably Shadow, but only Preach knew everything.

  “Two months.”

  Law dropped his head and nodded. Ace saw the hurt on his face before he hid it.

  “Tell me what the fuck is going on and what you’re doing to fix it.” Law was angry, but Ace knew it wasn’t at him. Ace was the closest thing Law had to family in the world and Ace knew this would be hard for the man to take.

  “Stomach cancer. They say I have six months tops. Not much can be done.”

  Law nodded again and then just stood and walked out slamming the door behind him.

  Ace looked to Preach.

  “He’ll deal with it. We all have to.” Preach looked sad and angry.

  Ace nodded. “He’ll head to Nikki. I should have talked to him, but damn it I don’t know how to do this shit.” Ace ran his hands over his close cropped hair. “I don’t know how to do any of it. How am I going to tell Marty?” He felt the fear rise in him again and he tried to push it back down, but the more people who knew the more real it all seemed.

  “I don’t know how to help you there. I can’t imagine having that talk with my girls.”

  “Shit ain’t fair. Not fucking fair.”

  Ace wanted to hit something. He slammed his fist down on the old scarred table. He wanted to beat the shit out of somebody and he hoped Mike stepped in his path, but no one did. He left the clubhouse and just started walking. He felt a lump in his throat and wanted to rage and scream at the world for making him sick. He wanted to wallow like a kid and cry, but he couldn’t do any of it. He was a Defender and he had his pride.

  “Hey! Wait up!”

  Ace turned to see Marty jogging after him. She wore running shorts and a tank top. She was soaking wet with sweat and her short hair stuck up all over her head. Her dark sunglasses hid her big brown eyes that he had passed down to her and for some reason made her look more like her mother. Ace missed Janie right then more than he ever had in the last twenty years.

  “Hey kid. What have you been up to, other than whatever happened with Mike? He is not your biggest fan, so you know.” He tried to clear the lump from his throat, but his voice was gruff.

  “Yeah…about that…sorry. I’ll try to be nice. It’s just that I didn’t get all that much sleep and well when he barged into my room I lost my temper.”

  Ace just raised his brows. “You can sleep somewhere else tonight if that helps.”

  “Yeah? Where?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I think maybe you could stay with Law and Nikki, but I’ll need to ask first. If not you can crash with Preach and Mrs. She will spoil you like crazy though.”

  “I wouldn’t mind that actually, but where ever is fine. I’ll try to stay out of the way.”

  “You aren’t in the way here Marty.” She gave him a half grin that told him she wasn’t convinced yet and he vowed to convince her.

  “So… I hope its ok that I’ve been running. I like to keep busy and running helps me think. Where is the best place the guy at the gate said I couldn’t run outside on the road?”

  “It isn’t safe. We have enemies. You can run anywhere you want inside though.”

  “Ace?”

  “Hmm?” He was looking off toward the gates. Marty would be a target the minute she stepped foot out those gates.

  “Am I like a prisoner here or something?”

  “Hell no but I have to keep you safe. I owe that to your mama.”

  “Owe her more than that if you ask me, but since you didn’t…”

  “You do have a sharp tongue that’s for certain. Are you enjoying it here?”

  Marty shrugged. “I don’t
like being treated like I’m not equal and I’m hungry, but it a pretty place.”

  Ace nodded. “Is that what happened with Mike? I need to know Marty. He was hot as fire in there today. Why did he barge into your room? I swore I would make it clear that you have to respect the brothers if you don’t it falls on me. You have to behave yourself. Don’t dishonor me Marty.” He said it all straight out without giving her a chance to butt in.

  “I would never.” She looked hurt.

  Ace looked at the child he had only just discovered. She was so like her mother, but she had a sweetness that she only showed glimpses of. He had no idea how to talk to her of the circumstances that led him to Georgia or anything else.

  “I do know that. Just give it some time for the brothers to get to know you. You will earn their respect.” He pinched her chin. “You already have mine.”

  She seemed so small and unsure. An adult in age, but a child in heart. Ace had never suffered the hardship of sentimentality, but before he could stop himself he pulled his child against his chest and propped his chin on her head.

  “I want you to be happy here Marty. Find your place here. I want you to belong here like I do. Janice said I needed to watch you because you are too smart. What do you like to do?”

  “Computer stuff. Not really sure what good that can do me here.” She sniffled.

  “Well hell I think I’ve figured out who you need to meet.” He looked down into her face. “After you get something to eat. You should never go hungry here. There’s always food in the kitchen.”

  “Ace, am I expected to wash bikes and clean like the women in there are?”

  “No ma’am. Those are the club whores and the sweetbutts. They do it because its how they get to stay. You get to stay because of who you are. I will introduce you to some of the oldladies later. That’s where you belong. You answer to me and to Preach, but nobody else. Stand your ground and earn their respect. Make me proud.”

  She let out a sigh and seemed to relax a little. Ace felt his heart swell. She was his kid and in that moment he loved her more than he had ever loved another person in his life.

  5

  Marty’s jaw dropped when Ace opened a door at the back of the clubhouse. It was filled with books and monitors. She counted four computers but thought there may be more tucked away. A man she had met earlier looked up from a desk in the corner and raised his brows.

  “Spec.”

  “Ace.” He looked back to the screen and continued working as if that was all the conversation Ace expected.

  “Marty, this is Spec. He’s the smartest sonofabitch I’ve ever met. You two might find a few things in common and he might help you find something to do with yourself while you’re here.”

  “We met this morning, thank heavens. Hello again Spec.”

  “Ms. Cross.” Spec leaned back in his chair and adjusted his wire rimmed glasses on his nose. “What can you do?”

  “Anything. I hacked into the hospital’s computers when I was ten, to help my mom get her treatments. I helped a wealthy old fart who lived in Atlanta give my grandma a beautiful funeral. I’ve done more…” She shrugged

  “Are you sure we can trust her Ace? Sharing blood doesn’t make her trustable.”

  “I stake my life on that.” Ace said with more confidence than he thought he had.

  Spec grinned like an evil scientist. “Well I’m sure there are a few things I can let you help with. It’s about time I get some help around here.”

  Marty grinned. Spec didn’t make her feel out of place. She walked around the desk and sat where he told her to.

  “We will be fine here Ace. Go talk to Law about getting her a place to stay. Can’t have her in the clubhouse like this morning.”

  “You read my mind Spec. It would be a good distance too I think. Marty could run here in the mornings.”

  “Yeah sounds great, unless it rains.” Marty quipped, but she was already looking at the computer screen.

  Ace wanted to laugh. She and Spec already had their heads together and she already looked happier. Now he had to go talk to Law and he wasn’t looking forward to that one bit.

  His phone rang as he stepped out into the bright morning light and he answered.

  “Hey Ace. How’s my girl?”

  Ace heard the clank of dishes and knew that Janice was at the diner.

  “She is doing alright. Hit a snag this morning, but she seems to have found a place for herself. I put her with one of the brothers working on some computer stuff while I try to find her a place to stay away from the clubhouse.”

  “She caused any trouble yet?”

  “Just a little. Not all her fault from what I’ve been told.” Ace wasn’t sure of that, but he didn’t want Janice to worry.

  “Well how are you adjusting to parenthood?”

  Ace heard the laughter in her voice and knew she was wearing that half grin that she wore when she poked fun at him.

  “I’m learning. She doesn’t mind pointing it out when I screw up either. She is whipping me into shape.”

  Janice laughed then and it was the kind that lit up her whole face. For the first time he wished he could see her. He frowned. It wasn’t the sort of feeling he had ever had for Janice.

  “You may be doomed. She has it in her head what kind of father she wants and she will poke until you get it right. She’s stubborn too.”

  Ace felt that damned lump in his throat again. He would be anything Marty wanted him to be. Right then he made a decision. He wanted a home for Marty. He climbed on his bike and thought while Janice talked on about Marty. He had money. He could buy a mobile home and pull it in on the club land. Preach wouldn’t tell him no. Maybe even buy a piece of land close by so he could leave something for Marty when he died. Something that would give her a connection to him and his home.

  “Janice, how hard would it be for you to get away for a little while and come up here?”

  “Well I don’t know. What have you got in mind?”

  “I want to do something for Marty, something I should have done years ago, but I may need some help with it.”

  He told Janice of his plan and heard the tears in her voice when she agreed to make the trip. He might not be able to give her much, but he would give her a home of her own.

  He called Preach and was surprised when he agreed without question. Preach knew of a piece of land that joined the club’s property and Preach had been looking at it for a while. The owner had agreed to sell only a couple of weeks ago. It would be no trouble to let Ace buy it instead of the club. Shad had already looked it over and figured out how to protect it.

  Ace sighed. He could have it all done in a couple of weeks if he got to it and then he would have a home for Marty and a place for himself when things got down to it. He didn’t want to spend his last days in the clubhouse. He would spend them with his family, in a real home.

  He cranked his motorcycle and drove out to Law’s house. He would talk it over with him too. He needed Law to agree to look after Marty when he was gone. There was nobody he trusted more.

  6

  Janice was a nervous wreck. She hadn’t been away from the diner for more than a few days since she’d bought it fifteen years ago. She trusted her people and knew they would call if there was a problem, but she still felt like a mother leaving her child for the first time. She had to do this though. She needed to help Ace give this to Marty.

  She had heard and urgency in Ace’s voice when he spoke about his plan that gave Janice a sick feeling in her stomach. She had a bad feeling that the reason for this new homestead was something darker than just giving Marty a place to call home. She hoped not though.

  Janice climbed into her ten year old ford and pulled away from the diner. It would take her all night to drive to West Virginia and she didn’t want to stop until she got there. She had a thermos full of coffee and a cooler full of food. The only thing she didn’t have with her was a toilet.

  She picked up her phone and dialed Ace.
They had talked every day since he hatched this idea and she was starting to miss him when it had been too long between calls. She wanted to have a reason though so she didn’t seem like a kid chasing a boy so she decided to let him know she was on the road. He answered on the second ring and she felt herself smile until she heard the strain in his voice.

  “Ace are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Give me a minute and I’ll call you right back.”

  Janice hear the phone hit the bed, but it didn’t cut off. She knew she should turn hers off, but she listened.