The Ties That Bind 1 Read online

  “Well, then you should probably stop asking me things about him.” Billy responded diplomatically, giving him a sympathetic smile. Rising from the table, she cleared her dishes and took them to the sink, where she slipped on the dish-washing gloves. “We’re going to Albuquerque in a couple of hours and should return late this evening. Do you want me to stop by the bar for you to do a head-to-toe inspection?”

  “If you can spare time out of your busy schedule that revolves around the him,” Marcus sniped, making his daughter smile at his petulance. “What happened to you coming here to spend time with me?”

  “I do spend time with you. The only reason it’s limited is because you don’t want me at the bar when all the action is happening! Which happens to coincide with Ransom’s downtime. Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t I get up early before the bar opens to come and have breakfast with you every morning?”

  Lorelai reached under the table and pinched Marcus’s thigh. He jerked and scowled back at her when she glared at him meaningfully.

  The doorbell rang twice in quick succession, and they exchanged a wary glance. No one ever came to their door this early.

  “Are you guys expecting company? Did you need me to get that?” Billy asked when it rang again and they remained seated.

  “No; stay there.”

  It rang once more before Marcus got up, clearing his gun from his back holster underneath his leather vest and keeping it concealed from Billy close to his side. He approached the door with Lorelai right behind him, her piece drawn as well. Marcus pressed himself against the left side of the door with Lorelai on the right.

  “Who is it?!” Marcus barked.

  “It’s Claudia Lawson! I’d like to speak to your daughter, and I’m not leaving until I do, Marcus! You’d better have a fresh pot of coffee going because I got out of bed solely for this visit!”

  At that announcement, Lorelai holstered her piece just in time as Billy’s head whipped around, her eyes practically bugging out her head. “What does she want with me?!”

  She was unnerved to hear such a declaration. Her mind raced at warped speed, and her palms grew sweaty. Why the hell was Ransom’s mother here for her? Billy glanced down in dismay at her raggedy denim and sleeveless, red cotton cross-over blouse that she’d paired with red platform wedges. What if she didn’t approve of her and told Ransom to leave her alone? Billy pondered sneaking out the back exit and to put on something more suitable to meet her man’s mother.

  “Never let them see you sweat, honey! Keep your smile in place and remember that you ain’t for everybody. If she don’t like you then she can get down off her fucking high horse and kiss your ass! Her son is lucky you spared him the time of day.”

  As usual, Melody Lashay’s advice was right on time…until Billy realized the blunt words hadn’t popped into her head. Lorelai had advised them. She was surprised at the fierce protectiveness for her in the other woman’s eyes.

  Force field deactivated.

  “Thanks, Lorelai. I appreciate that.”

  “Don’t thank me, girl. I’ve said all I have to say.” With resignation she grabbed a new mug and poured coffee into it while Marcus opened the door.

  Billy turned the water off and nervously wiped her hands on her jeans as a buxom dynamo whirled into the loft, vibrating with curiosity. Her hair was the same rich, dark brown as Ransom’s. It was permed in big curls that were teased away from her face with enough Aqua Net hairspray to destroy the ozone layer. Her wide-spaced green eyes peered at Billy between lashes thickly coated with mascara, and her full lips were lacquered in coral.

  The black pants and leopard-print tank top she wore underneath a black leather vest looked spray-painted onto her curves. This was Ransom’s mama? She approached them in six-inch, leopard-print stilettos, her layered gold necklaces swishing with each step. On her left hand was a four-carat, emerald diamond. She reminded Billy of a prettier version of Erica Kane from “All My Children”. The older woman shrewdly assessed her with a head-to-toe perusal, lips pursed and fingernail tapping her delicate chin, giving Billy the impression that the was prone to dramatics.

  “You better have a damn good reason for bringing your nosy ass over here this early in the morning, Claudia,” Lorelai threatened, handing her the coffee mug.

  “Thanks, mama, you’re a lifesaver.” The Latina beauty accepted the cup and continued appraising Billy with those familiar green eyes. She stuck her free hand out. “I’m Claudia Lawson.”

  Billy firmly shook it with a polite smile. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Lawson. I’m Willamina Stanton, but my friends call me Billy.”

  “You don’t need to “Eddie Haskell” me, hon. Let’s skip the formalities and shit. You call me Claudia, and I’ll call you Billy,” she responded bluntly.

  “Why don’t the two of you have a seat and get acquainted? Marcus, I’m going downstairs to prep for opening.” Lorelai nudged Billy forward hard enough to make her stumble. “Why so shy now? Sit down and get to know your guest.”

  Ignoring Billy’s glower, she silently laughed the entire way out the door.

  The two women moved to the sofa, and while Claudia made herself comfortable, Billy took note of the assorted marks marring both of her arms. They were at odds with her feminine appearance.

  “I call them battle scars.” Claudia’s voice was tinted with bitterness as she ran her nails along her arms yet, she kept her smile in place. “Just because we’re ‘Team Pussy’ doesn’t mean we need to act like it, kid. Bullshit is a twenty-four business, but I’m not in the market for any of it. How about you?”

  “No, ma’am. What can I do for you?”

  “When Harley told me about you, I knew I had to come and meet the girl who’s been keeping my baby away from home.”

  It was hard to reconcile that fine, grown-ass man who fucked her oh-so-thoroughly as being someone’s ‘baby’. Billy thought she’d go up in flames of embarrassment remembering the way Ransom showed her exactly how he liked his dick sucked. His large hands gathering fistfuls of her hair as he thrust into Billy’s salivating mouth. Tuh. Her ass he was Claudia’s ‘baby’.

  “I take it my son is treating you well?” Her wily look made Billy realize that she knew exactly how good Ransom was treating her. Heat suffused her face, but she forced herself to hold Claudia’s stare and answer.

  “Ransom was kind enough to stop and help me when my car broke down. He’s also taken me sightseeing in his spare time. We’re going out later today when he gets off work.”

  “Uh-huh; I’ll bet he’s showing you…stuff,” Claudia joked with a bawdy laugh.

  She was enjoying Billy’s discomfort. She sipped her coffee, pondered, and sipped again. This heartbreakingly lovely girl had her aloof son eating out the palm of her well-manicured hand. These days, Ransom came to work whistling cheerfully and was prone to smiling more for no specific reason. He disappeared on his lunch break and no longer lingered for a beer on the back patio when his shift was over. Her nostrils twitched as the familiar strawberry-floral fragrance that Claudia detected on Ransom’s clothes reached her nose. His brothers were slinging shit at him left and right about the feminine fragrance, but he wore the scent as proudly as he wore his tattoos.

  “Tell me a little bit about yourself, Billy.”

  “There’s not that much to tell. I recently graduated from high school and will be attending Famon University in Northern California next month. I had some spare time, and thought I’d come and visit Marcus first.”

  “Famon? I’ve never heard of it. Could you elaborate?”

  “It’s a liberal arts school. I’m passionate of the theater.”

  She deliberately kept her answers vague. Billy didn’t know much about Claudia except that she was a brawler and that her children came first with her. So much, that she launched an ambush on a complete stranger at nine in the morning.

  “That’s right! I did hear that!” Claudia snapped her fingers and swiveled around to address Marcus who w
as clearing the remainder of dishes from the table.

  “Shame on you for keeping secrets! I didn’t know you had a daughter and such a beautiful one at that.” She smiled sweetly at Billy. “Then again, if my little girl looked like this and had a sweet personality to boot, I’d keep her hidden away from this place, too.”

  “And why exactly would he do that?” Billy challenged. “Chatham isn’t L.A. by a long shot, but it has a certain appeal. Maybe, this is what I’ve been looking for.”

  The “appeal” being Ransom and Marcus, neither of whom she wanted to leave when she was starting to get to know them. There was a crash, startling both women who glanced over to see Marcus picking up a shattered coffee mug. He picked up the larger broken pieces and flung them into the trash can. He moved to stand in front of the sink with his back to them. Marcus leaned over it with his head hanging down and hands gripping the edge of the counter.

  Claudia smiled, displaying pearly whites, yet her eyes were diamond hard as she fluffed her brown curls out. “Chatham is a biker town, hon. The kind of place that will devour a naive, innocent girl whole and have her thinking her best options are working at that slimy Irish bastard’s brothel or clinging to a pole at Club Flex. Either that or she’ll get caught up with a biker and roped into his lifestyle. One that’s a far cry from what she’s used to. It will make or break her because it’s not for the faint of heart. Her life will no longer be her own. It will be his and the club’s. A smart girl would do well to get out while she still could, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Outsiders will never understand this life.

  Those were the words Ransom used on Billy in his honest effort to win her over. His mother was basically implying them to drive her away. Everywhere Billy turned, people tried to control her and the narrative. Rejecting her authenticity. Except for Ransom. He stood firm and accepted her. He’d never wavered in his stance to be with her. Billy knew that if Ransom was aware that Claudia was here spitting her game, he’d lose his shit. The last thing she wanted was to cause trouble between mother and son or anyone else for that matter. But she’d be damned if she let one more person put their nose where it didn’t belong. Ransom deserved to be defended as well.

  “A smart woman doesn’t have limits. She knows her worth, Claudia. The right man will recognize and appreciate that about her and vice versa. No one will be able to come between them. In the end, the only ones hurt will be those who were foolish enough to try.” Billy spoke concisely, not just for Claudia’s benefit, but Marcus’ as well.

  So, the princessa had balls, Claudia thought gleefully. That was good. She would definitely need them if she planned to stay in Ransom’s life. Her first opinion of the girl was misleading. With her good looks and fashionable attire, Claudia had mistaken her for a rich girl who was slumming. She’d underestimated Billy. Yes, she carried herself with grace, but she had fire, too. Claudia particularly loved the way she defended Ransom to her, his mother of all people! The Skank Patrol at the compound would hate her on site, but they’d do well to get used to Billy. Instinct told Claudia that she’d be around for awhile.

  “I like that you don’t scare easily, Billy. But I also would despise finding out if your intentions weren’t pure toward my son. I hope that doesn’t ever prove to be the case.”

  “I’m not frontin’ about anything, Claudia. What you see is what you get with me. Trust me, I have no designs to harm Ransom,” Billy responded with heartfelt sincerity. The thought of him in pain or being responsible for such an occurrence positively gutted her. “That would be the last thing I’d ever want to do.”

  “And if he wanted you to stay? My son cares deeply for you. I’ve never seen him like this about anyone, Billy.”

  The feeling was so reciprocated. Billy jumped when Marcus slammed a kitchen cabinet and then a drawer before stopping with his back to them, waiting for her response.

  “Listen, Claudia, I really like your son. We have a great time together, but I had a life before I came here. One that I’ll be going back to soon, no matter what happens here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for my date with Ransom.” Billy rose from the sofa and offered her a friendly smile. “It was nice to finally meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Claudia murmured. “Have Ransom bring you by our place when you get back. I think it’s time you got a taste of the club life.”

  While Billy gathered her things, Claudia finished her coffee and waited for Marcus to speak. She didn’t have to wait long. As soon as his daughter left, Marcus stormed over to the sofa and snatched her up by the arm, spinning her around to face him.

  “What was that shit?” he seethed. “You had one fucking job to do, Claudia! Convince her to leave town! That was it. Why’d did you have to bring up feelings?! Not only did you fuck up the plan with that, but you invited her to the compound! Was I not specific about not mentioning that? You asked me if I could get you the ho’s name that Slade was fucking, and I snooped around for you! Then you turn around and sell me out? Fuck you, Claudia!”

  “Now, don’t be like that, Marcus!” She laughed in his face, not caring if she pissed him the fuck off. “I was going to help you, but I truly like your daughter. I’m sorry; I hadn’t planned on that. I thought because she was related to you, she’d be a smug little shit, but Billy seems like a levelheaded girl. She would be good for Ransom.”

  Marcus’s face was contorted with rage as he snatched her flush to him and shook her. “I don’t give a shit who you like! Fix this tonight! Or I’ll—”

  He froze when Claudia grabbed him by his dick and squeezed. It was only intended as a warning for him to release her. They were both startled when her grip turned into a stroke and produced an erection.

  And an impressive one at that, Claudia thought, feeling his generous width. It was a juvenile reaction for a seasoned vet like herself, but being in a sexy man’s arms other than Slade’s was a novel experience for her. One she was starting to appreciate, taking in Marcus’s obsidian eyes, strong, broad nose, and full lips. He was handsome, virile, and taken. Marcus would be the perfect revenge against Slade. It would be sweeter because only she would know.

  She could see the lust in his eyes as they lowered to her lips then further down, lingering on her ample breasts. Yeah, she was a little older, but so what? Claudia knew she looked damned good for her age. Her body grew languid with desire, and she pressed closer, allowing him to feel her curves. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she breathed, “Marcus—”

  He’d be a damned liar if he said that he didn’t find the Latin beauty to be an undeniable temptation. But he couldn’t do Lorelai like that. There was too much at stake for him to fuck around with Claudia Lawson of all people. She stroked him again, and Marcus swallowed a frustrated groan when his dick betrayed him, twitching in her wicked palm. Muttering a harsh expletive, he thrust her away from her and stalked toward the front door. Yanking it open for her, and jerking his head toward it.

  “Not happening, Claudia. Ever,” he callously emphasized. “Get the fuck outta here.”

  “Dicks don’t lie, Marcus,” she tossed out airily. Claudia purposefully brushed up against him when she passed, and he went rigid with awareness. The intensity in his eyes made her pussy clench. “Come find me when you’re tired of fighting it. Unlike my husband, I can be as appropriately discreet as the situation warrants.”

  Click.

  The sound was followed by a whirring noise, then another series of clicks that set Billy’s teeth on edge.

  “How many pictures of me are you going to take?” Billy whined.

  She stuck her tongue out at Ransom and lunged at him when he also captured that image with his Nikon camera. He held it high above his head when Billy tried to take it from him. “Give it to me! You’ve been snapping pictures of me since our first date! You know how much I hate taking pictures!”

  Ransom wrapped one arm around her waist and laughed as Billy doubled her efforts by hopping up and down. “Stop whining, baby. It’s your own f
ault for being so photogenic.”

  “And when I’m shaving my legs? Or brushing my teeth?” Billy dodged his lips and tried to jump for the camera again. “How about first thing in the morning when I’m sleeping What’s your excuse then?”

  Ransom lowered his arm and shoved the camera in his cargo-pants pocket. “That you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I can’t take my eyes off you. Is that good enough?”

  “Maybe.” Mollified by his answer, she curled up under his arm. “Tell me more about the New Mexico tribes.”

  “The “Puebloans” or “Pueblo People” are Native Americans indigenous to the Southwestern United States. They share a common style of living in communities and the multi-storied structures made of adobe mud and stone. There are only twenty-one federally recognized Pueblos in the United States. One is in Arizona, another in Texas, and the rest are spread out here in New Mexico. You’ve got the Tiwa, Keresan, Tanoan…”

  Ransom’s passion for the Native Americans, enthralled Billy who listened in silence, giving the tribes their due respect. He wasn’t too proud to admit that he liked the way she was looking at him. First in shock at discovering his extensive knowledge of the land and its people and then in something akin to awe.

  Currently, they were walking around Old Town Albuquerque, exploring the blocks of historic adobe buildings surrounding the plaza.

  “How do you know all of this stuff?” She was surprised at the bashful grin that stole over his face. When he ducked his head in embarrassment, Billy was fascinated by the rosy hue that tinged the normally confident biker’s face.

  “I studied them at the University of New Mexico, right here in town,” Ransom sheepishly confessed. “Graduated not too long ago.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you went to college?” Billy demanded with a wide grin, impressed by this discovery. She punched his arm lightly. “You go, boy! Congratulations! I can’t believe that as many times as we’ve discussed my college plans, that particular fact never came up!” She whirled to face him, jabbing her finger in his chest accusingly. “You knowingly hid it from me!”