Warlords MC: Book 4 – Deuce : Chapter 5

Deuce looked over at her in a double take, then concentrated on the road again. “Why would you want to bring down your own father?”

“I’ve known it all my life but after Collette disappeared, he made it very clear to me that the only way he thought about us was as assets to his business ventures. He used Collette to bind another man to his empire and that was just wrong. She never wanted to go and leave me behind but he forced her to go. I know she didn’t even like this other man but he didn’t care. The man wanted a place at my father’s table and that’s how he chose to get there. He’d married Colette off to an old man. When I found out her supposed asshole husband had let her die after she gave birth, I about lost it. God only knows what happened to the baby she had. I hope one day to find the child, but that’s something I may never do.”

Deuce had a sinking feeling in his gut about the baby, but he had to find out for sure. “Who was the husband you’re talking about?”

She scoffed, as she still looked angry. “I’m not sure what his actual name is but my dad called him Gauntlet. I hate that fucking name and I hate the man behind it even more.” She cried as she looked out the side window.

He glanced over at her and could see her reflection in the window glass. She had a tear running down her cheek, but she wouldn’t wipe it away.

She went on in a flat voice, “He didn’t even give my sister a proper burial. He just left her body behind. If the police hadn’t found her, he would have left her there to rot.”

Deuce shook his head.

She finally wiped her tears away and turned to look at him. “If you were there watching my father, then you know who I am, right?”

Deuce nodded. “I know who you are, Luna.” Boy, did he. Was it his wish to see her up close and in person that had brought him to that mansion today? No, it had been his need to nail that bastard. He shook his head. He had no idea she was his daughter. But fate had known, hadn’t it?

“But I don’t know who you are,” she whispered

Deuce gripped the steering wheel a little tighter before he answered, “My name is Dade Bridges, but me and my brothers are also known as the Warlord MC. My road handle is Deuce. My brothers are Ace, King, Jack, and Joker.”

Luna shook her head. “A deck of cards, huh? Well, that’s unique isn’t it?”

Deuce just shrugged. “We get that reaction all the time. Actually, it had been our Captain’s idea, way back.” Before she could ask about the captain, he looked at her fully now. “Who gave you the bruises?”

“I know I’m not at my best right now, thanks for pointing that out by the way.” She scoffed but smiled a little as she shook her head. “My dad and I got into it again, last night. I said something that set him off and he slapped me and ordered me to go to my room. I started walking toward the front door and he had that bozo that was trailing me today, escort me to my room. I fought back and got away from him but I had to hide in my own god damn house until I could get away just before dawn. Bozo caught me and he chased me all the way to the top of the hill. I had just enough of a head start he couldn’t catch me but still. I don’t think my father is very happy right about now.”

Deuce snorted. “The last time I looked, he was sitting on the patio sipping a cup of coffee.”

She laughed. “Then he doesn’t know I’m gone yet. Bozo is about to face the wrath of Jedidiah Whittaker when he gets back.”

“You don’t sound a bit sorry about that fact,” Deuce spoke dryly.

“I’m not one bit sorry for the slob.” She shook her head. “Bozo likes to throw his weight around a bit too much. I feel sorry for you though.”

Deuce frowned. “Why me?”

“Because if I know my father, he’s already in his helicopter looking for this truck,” she announced carefully. “I just hope we were too far away when Bozo broke through the brush that he couldn’t describe it all that well.”

“Well, shit,” Deuce swore. There was a rest stop just ahead and he signaled for Joker to pull in.

When they arrived, Deuce quickly escorted Luna over to his brother’s bike.

“Who’s the babe?” Joker smiled.

The babe’s head shot up as she stared at Joker. “I look like a babe to you? Right now? Look at me! I’m a freakin’ mess.”

Joker shrugged.

Deuce frowned. Joker always had an easy way about him. Women loved him instantly. That was how Ace had met Charli. She’d saved Joker from death back in Braaken, after he’d been knifed. His little brother always found trouble and it usually ended up that a female was at the center of it somehow. But he didn’t like that Joker stared at Luna. Jealousy? Yeah… it made no sense, but yeah. In a low voice, he told Joker they had to switch vehicles.

Joker didn’t even argue about switching vehicles, he just took the bike keys and handed off his bike to Deuce.

Deuce looked at the younger man and said, “We were never on the high road this morning. You were coming from Helena on your way to Billings to see a friend. Whittaker might have seen the truck and may be following it to get his daughter back.”

Joker smiled. “Actually, that works well for me because I do have friends in the area. If you get back before I do, let the others know I might need bailing out and that if I call, they’d better come get me.”

Deuce paused for a minute. The last time he was out alone, they’d almost lost him.

Joker stared at him, like he damn well knew what Deuce was thinking. “Hey now! I can take care of myself.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, against a gang with knives, you didn’t fare so well, little brother.” They all had a soft spot for Joker, as he was the baby of the family. When they had believed he was dead, even though it had been for just a few minutes, it about killed them all with heartbreak. Deuce never wanted to feel that way again, or see the broken hearted looks on his brother’s faces. He shook himself to remove the horrible memory of it.

“Pffft!” Joker scoffed.

Deuce didn’t like it but they had no time to spare, he hugged his brother quickly and said, “Be careful.”

“You be careful with my bike brother. You wreck it, you bought it.” Joker glared at him.

Deuce nodded. “Get going. Luna will come with me, so if they do stop you, they won’t find her.” They watched as Joker took off down the road then he mounted the bike. Luna wasn’t sure what to do so Deuce told her, “Get on behind me and hang on to my waist. Lean when I do but don’t go any further than I do, or you’ll spill us all over the road. And let me tell you, road rash doesn’t care if you’re male or female, it will fuck you up but good.”

“Won’t they see me if we follow the truck?” she asked.

“We’ll go another route. They won’t know where you are, I promise.” Deuce handed her the helmet Joker always wore and told her to tuck her hair up into it to hide the color and when she was ready, he took off.

Luna grabbed hold of him tightly and he smiled as they rode down the highway. Damn, there he was last night, unable to sleep mostly because of her face and those eyes. Then now, she was wrapped around his waist. Will wonders never cease?

The smile didn’t leave his face for the next five miles. He turned off as soon as he could and a few hours later, he was turning into Charli’s driveway. He had taken the long way home but he was surprised to find Charli’s truck already there.

He turned the engine off, kicked the stand down, and waited.

“How do we get off?” Luna asked from behind him.

“You go first, I will follow.”

Luna did so and then wobbled a bit.

He swung himself over the body of the bike and grabbed her for a moment to steady her.

He felt angry with Joker as he escorted her to the door of the farmhouse. He’d made it back here ahead of him. He wasn’t careful maybe like he should’ve been. Glaring over at Joker, he asked, “Were you followed back here?”

Joker snorted. “No, I wasn’t. I did see the chopper but it didn’t even slow down. It went right past me. I slowed down and took the road to Billings.” He shook his head. “I don’t think he knew who he was looking for and when he saw I was alone, he just went on.”

Ace stared at Deuce, not looking happy. “You could have told us what you were doing you know. You shouldn’t have fucking gone alone.”

Deuce nodded. “I know. I just wanted to get a feel for what we were looking at.” Looking over at Luna, he shook his head. “I wasn’t looking to start anything this morning. I just wanted to see where we stood. But now, I’m glad I was there when I was. We were right where we needed to be this morning.” He paused, then introduced them all, “Ace, King and you already met Joker.” Deuce pointed them out to Luna. Then he paused again before he dropped his bomb, and looked over at his brothers. “Everyone, meet Luna Whittaker, Jedidiah’s daughter.”

Luna hardly expected the greeting she got but she should have.

King growled.

Ace looked at her like he wanted to scrape her off the bottom of his shoe.

She raised herself to her total height of five foot two and glared back. “I am not my father. Don’t you dare judge me by the same standards you judge him by! I am not a part of whatever he has done. I want no part of him or his dealings. You got a problem with me, make sure it is WITH me!”

Charli chuckled.

Just then, Annabelle came in and Luna turned to look at her.

Deuce waited and watched how she would react.