“Grandmother…” He started to protest, but she ignored him.

  It took her an hour to finish, but when she did her face looked worn and drawn.

  “Now child. Let me help you wash them away. You didn’t need to spend another night with them did you?”

  Gator realized Naughty’s shoulders were shaking. She shook her head, but didn’t open her eyes.

  Grandmother washed Naughty’s long hair with a sweet smelling shampoo and then picked up a brick of soap.

  “This may sting my girl, but your ghosts are sticky.”

  Naughty nodded and gritted her teeth as grandmother too the strong soap and scrubbed her perfect smooth back. Before she was finished washing away the soot, Naughty’s back was a fiery red, but her sobs were gone and she was sleeping peacefully in her tub.

  “Put her to bed my boy. She will be much lighter than before.”

  Gator lifted her in his arms and she did feel lighter than air. He laid her in the narrow bed that sat against the wall. Grandmother climbed into her own and soon the old house was filled with the contented breathing of the women he loved most in the world. Everything felt right for the first time since he could remember and he drifted off lying on the couch by the glowing embers of the fire.

  21

  Naughty sat in the tiny boat as it swayed with the currents of the river. She had hugged Grandmother tightly and it had almost killed her to let her go. She didn’t understand what had happened and figured part of it was more dream than reality, but she felt free this morning and her stomach was happy too. Maybe it was just a good rest that had healed her, but she wasn’t so sure.

  Gator was quiet as he rowed their little boat down the river. He was watching the trees and seemed deep in thought.

  She reached out and touched his arm.

  He looked at her in question.

  “Are you ok?”

  He smiled and her heart settled a little.

  “I’m good love. I forget how peaceful she is when I’m away. Not sure how I forget that.”

  “You love her.”

  He nodded.

  “I do too. I don’t know what she did, but I feel free.”

  He nodded. She draws the ghosts to her. Keeps them. Sometimes they stay and sometimes they escape, but it’s peaceful for a while anyway.”

  He talked as if none of this was strange at all. Naughty guessed it was normal to him. There was so much she didn’t know. She wanted to though.

  “What’s her name?”

  Gator’s eyes cut to her. “Why?”

  “She said this was a girl…” She patted her belly.

  “Names can have power, but…” He nodded. “Josette.”

  A shiver raced up Naughty’s spine. “Josette.” She whispered. “It’s perfect. Will she be alright?”

  Gator laughed. “Yes Naughty, she will be just fine until she decides to leave us.”

  Naughty shook her head. Maybe the rumors about Gator were right, this all seemed a bit voodooish to her, but it wasn’t the scary kind, it was the peaceful kind so she went with it.

  “So, where are you taking me?”

  “Somewhere they will never think to look.” His smile made her suspicious, but she felt too good to argue. Until he pulled his boat up on the river bank.

  The day they’d left his house he had hidden her in Cora’s room again and ridden away to hide his bike and to make sure no one was still around. It had taken him three hours and she’d been worried, but he’d come back sweating and thirsty. There had been no time for questions. They had showered and packed clothes in a backpack and food in another. Then he had pushed and shoved until she’d climbed into his little boat. That first night he hadn’t slept a wink and the next they had reached Grandmother’s. Now he was pulling them onto the bank of the river in a place she recognized. It’s where Sniper had found them.

  “What the hell are we doing back here and how?” She fussed as he chuckled and pulled her out of the boat.

  “The swamps can be a maze. I just got us lost and paid a visit to Grandmother. I needed them to be out looking for us. We are getting on this bike and going the fuck home. I can protect you better if I know who the fuck is looking for us. Spec will know by the time we get there. We will take our own sweet time.” He said and gave her a playful wink.

  “Have you lost your mind?”

  “No beb, I haven’t.” He took off his cut and carefully rolled it up and placed it in his saddle bags. They were going to go invisible.

  “Get on beb. We need to ride.” He said and kissed her frowning lips.

  Then he looked at her suspiciously when she smiled sweetly.

  “Ok, but I need to pee first.”

  Gator let out a string of curses and Naughty laughed like a hyena.

  “Hell if I’m holding you up this time.”

  “But what if I fall?” She made her eyes go round and blinked up at him with a pouted mouth.

  “Oh for shit’s sake.”

  She dropped her pants and he held her up and she only got a drop on his boot, but it was enough.

  “You’re like a fucking poodle marking territory.” He groused as he wiped his boot on the grass, but she caught his grin.

  They were free and Naughty would trust Gator to keep them that way, well free and hopefully breathing.

  They rode for a couple of hours before he pulled into a little restaurant. It looked too fancy for them in their filthy state, but he insisted she eat something good. The pretty blonde that greeted them didn’t bat an eye at their disheveled appearance and didn’t even seat them in the back of the room. She put them right by a window overlooking a garden full of roses. Naughty sighed.

  “Like those beb?” Gator asked.

  “I do. Maybe we could plant some by the front porch.”

  “Dat sounds pretty. What color do you want me to buy you?”

  “I like pink and white.” She giggled. “I don’t see you as the type to plant flowers though.”

  He looked insulted. “I can plant them if you want me to. I think I could figure it out.”

  “You’d do it though? Really? For me?” Her belly was fluttering with butterflies. This was what love felt like for regular people. She had been missing out by holding on to her past. Now she was almost giddy.

  “I’d do anything to see you smile.” He reached across and captured her hand. “Now eat something good that will keep you filled up for a while.”

  Naughty grinned. Oh she would eat something good, pasta, she loved pasta.

  Their meal was delicious. Gator talked to the waitress until she’d blushed and Naughty couldn’t help but enjoy his banter. He was so happy. She loved seeing him smile and laugh, he didn’t do it enough.

  When they’d finished and she’d gone to the bathroom again and washed her face. They were back on the road. She didn’t ask where they were or where they were going, she just held onto him and let him get them lost in the great big world.

  Gator pulled off the road and made a call just as the sun began to fall out of the sky. She’d heard enough to know that he had gone nomad for a while which was fine by her. Then he’d told Preach that her shit was his and nobody better touch it. He was making sure she was protected. Then he’d told her to call Spec.

  She did and he still wasn’t sure who the mole was, but he was getting closer. Fox and Ginger had gotten back home along with Wick and Lamb. They had all seemed heart broken, but he’d been able to get a bug in their phones. If they made contact with anyone they shouldn’t, he would know. He’d also bugged all their houses or rooms. He wasn’t playing around and he wasn’t sharing info. He said he’d told Preach and the situation had been shared with only the officers that needed to know. Jack was apparently ready to go to war over the whole thing. That made her smile. Jack was a sweetheart.

  “You wouldn’t believe who all has shed a tear over your sexy ass Naughty. You are loved sweetheart.”

  “Thank you Spec.” She said, touched.

  “Stay safe, both of you, just stay safe. Get back home safe Brother.” He sounded so worried.

  “We will give it our best shot.” Gator said seriously.

  He hung up and turned and headed back the way they had come. So, he didn’t trust anyone then. She rested her cheek against his muscled back, good, neither did she.

  22

  They stayed on the road for a week before they started heading north toward home. They had stayed in pretty hotels with indoor hallways and even swimming pools. Gator had bought her a pretty pink bikini at a little shop in a tourist town and she had worn it, proudly displaying her tiny baby bump. He had loved her to sleep every night and every day he had loved her awake too. Then they would spend most of the day on the road. It was a freedom like she had never experienced before. They checked in with Spec ever so often and he was sure he had figured out the threat at home, but he wouldn’t say over the phone.

  It seemed like a weight settled on them as they started home, their carefree life was drawing to an end, but they needed a real life, one with a crib.

  Gator’s loving became more urgent in the days that drew them closer to home. He grew almost rough in the nights and too gentle in the mornings, but she understood. They were headed for uncertainty and they didn’t know what they would find when they got there.

  They rolled into the compound after lunch one day. The sky was cloudy as if it too felt the heaviness in their hearts. Lamb was the first one to see them and he ran to wrap Naughty in a bone crushing hug. “Shit, I thought you were really dead. I’m so glad you’re not. Shift, I’m sorry.” He said as he wiped his nose on the inside of his t-shirt. “So glad you’re alright. I felt so bad. Wouldn’t have blamed Gator for killing me, I would have if I’d been him, but I guess he knew you were ok huh?”

  Naughty smiled up at Lamb and nodded. “Thank you for caring Lamb, it means a lot to me.”

  He swallowed hard and nodded. “Good to have you back Gator. Thanks for not killing me like I deserved.”

  “You’re welcome.” Gator nodded as he took Naughty’s hand and led her toward the clubhouse.

  They stepped inside and there was a hush that fell over the room. Jack was carrying a case of something, but stopped when he realized the room was quiet. He met her eyes and all but dropped the case of liquor on the bar.

  “Holy shit. You’re ok? The baby’s ok?” He asked as he ran his hands over her.

  She nodded and he turned to Gator and sent a punch straight into his jaw.

  “You son of a bitch. You could have let me know something. You know how much I care about my girls and you let me think she was dead. Fucking douche move Gator.”

  “Consider us even.” Gator said as he rubbed his purpling jaw.

  Jack pulled him into a hug that had to hurt, but Gator allowed it and patted his friend on the back.

  Several others offered ‘glad you’re not dead’ sentiments as they passed and Naughty smiled at each of them. Gator pulled her until she was inside Preach’s office. She had only been in this room once and that was not something she wanted to remember. She met Preach’s eyes and he nodded once, yeah he remembered too...awkward.

  “Good to see you both in one piece. We’ve found the mole. Shift ain’t right, but it is what it is. Come on downstairs, both of you. You need to hear all of it.”

  Naughty followed Gator down to the basement of the clubhouse. She had heard about this place and knew few ever left once they went down those stairs. She kept a death grip on Gator’s hand. He squeezed it back to reassure her, but it didn’t help.

  She gasped when she saw the man with the dark hair, the one that had fondled her. He was strapped to a chair and had been beat all to hell, but they didn’t stop there. Preach noticed her pause.

  “He’s not innocent either, but that’s shit from your past. Let you deal with it Gator.”

  Naughty’s mouth fell open, but she kept walking. There was no way she wanted to be left alone in this place.

  Preach opened a door and Naughty gasped when she saw Fox strapped to a chair. His face was bruised and one eye was swollen shut. He looked up at her and let out a pained sob.

  “I’m so glad it wasn’t you.” He slurred through swollen lips.

  “He’s not the only one and not the worst, but he gave information to an enemy.” Preach kicked Fox’s foot.

  “Not on a brother or the club, just her.” He choked as tears leaked out of his eyes. “I had no choice! I didn’t want to do it, but I had no choice.”

  “Bullshit! You could have come to me!” Preach slapped Fox hard enough to rock his chair back.

  “Why Fox? After everything, why?” Naughty whispered.

  “Because I loved you and I loved Gin. They made me choose. They showed me that they could reach me at the diner. They showed me how easy it would be.” His voice broke. “I had no choice.”

  Naughty wiped her face. She had trusted him.

  Gator’s teeth were gritted so hard she was sure they would crumble.

  “This one’s yours Gator, it’s your right.” Preach handed Gator a gun and Naughty sobbed.

  “Not with her in here. She’s had enough.” Fox pleaded and Gator agreed.

  “Later on Preach.” He nodded and Preach nodded back.

  They made their way to another room where Rena and Mace sat behind thick iron bars.

  “Rena thought she could get back at Choo-Choo. Tried to off Josie, she failed and got her ass kicked for her trouble. Josie is a feisty one.” He grinned at Rena when she started spitting curses. “But the ring leader of this little shit storm is our own red headed wonder fuck. Rena was pimping out the girls, since you were on the no fuck list you were safe. She was dosing them with some good shit and selling their pussy for a nice profit. Mace here was getting her the dope from our phoenix brothers and filling their ears with how horrible all of us brothers are. For now we have the little problem with Phoenix under control. They have a new Pres and a few of our boys are headed out there to make sure this shit stays dead.”

  “Where’s Baker you son of a bitch?” Mace spat.

  “Right on the other side of that wall sweetheart.” Preach pointed behind her. “Don’t worry, we don’t kill kids. His old lady is free to keep that boy.”

  “That’s my fucking kid you animal.” Mace spat. “He’s mine!” Angry tears rolled down her face. “I just want my baby back.”

  Naughty felt her own tears running down her face.

  “Why did you drug Naughty? She has a right to know. Might earn you some leniency.”

  “I knew they were coming. I gave her something to make her woozy. I knew about the baby so I was careful. I knew if she was sick Gator would step up and keep her safe.” Mace sobbed.

  Naughty laughed and then she laughed more. Her laughter came out as hysterical as it shook her body. She felt Gator’s arms go around her.

  “Tiffany are you alright?”

  “She’s so full of shit. Tell me you aren’t buying any of this!” Tears flowed from her eyes as both men stared at her. Then Rena started laughing as Mace started spitting curses so vile a sailor would blush.

  “You fucking whore! You don’t know shit!”

  “I know that what you gave me was not mild. The doctors at the hospital pumped my stomach and were still worried about damage to my fucking kid! You will get no sympathy from me! I remember what you said as I lay writhing on that couch. You told Gator I had men! You told him and you knew it wasn’t true. Your kid is better off not knowing what a horrible bitch his mother is!”

  “You have no right! I deserve my kid, but you don’t. You don’t deserve anything. You had a life, one we all dreamed of and you threw it all away. Then you come here and still end up ahead of me. I’ve done everything right and I’m still shaking my ass with no one looking to put a patch on me. Baker was my only chance and his fucking wife took my kid. Fuck you. I hope your baby dies. I hope its born retarded!”

  Naughty picked up a chair and threw it at the bars. Mace backed up. She looked around and finally realized any hope for leniency was lost. She fell to her knees and sobbed into her hands.

  “I hope they make you watch as they kill him.”

  Then she turned and walked out of the room and down the hall to where the man with the dark hair sat against the wall.

  “What the fuck is your problem? Why have you been stalking me you creepy bastard?” She demanded.

  He looked up at her. “I wanted to make him suffer the way he made me suffer, but he’s dead, so I wanted to hurt you instead.”

  “Who?” She demanded.

  “Thomas.”

  She gasped and stepped back.

  “Why.”

  “He ruined my life. He was fucking my wife. She was leaving me for him when the shooting happened. After I thought we might be able to work things out. She killed herself. She burned my house down around her. I couldn’t make him suffer so I guess I wanted to make you suffer instead. I didn’t mean any harm. Please don’t let them kill me.”

  She bent down in his face. “Then you get the fuck out and leave me alone. Forever. You don’t even think about me or I let my old man bury you alive. You get me?”

  “I get it. Please just let me go.” He begged.

  Gator stepped up behind her. “What do we do with him?”

  “Cut him loose. He’s not a threat. Just another crazy.”

  “If this is what you want.”

  “It is. There’s been enough death around here lately.”

  She turned and walked up the stairs and out into the clubhouse, but she couldn’t breathe. She kept walking until she stood outside, in the back yard. She panted for breath, but it was so hot. She felt arms around her, but they weren’t Gator. She knew his arms.

  “Shhhh calm down now little chicken. Breathe deep.”

  She knew that voice.

  Moose.

  She heard a shot and knew Fox was gone. She let out a sob and turned to Moose. He held her close.

  “Glad you’re ok Chicken. Had us all pretty heart broken.”

  He kissed her head and rubbed her back. “Gator is good Chicken. He will take care of you. He will make a good daddy too.”