Stanton's Sins

Chapter 3

3

Grr. That idiot just had to get himself arrested, didn’t he?

Sammi’s red Corvette coupe went up the curb as she parked across the street from the clubhouse, and she let out a string of low curses. It was her spot, although she routinely grumbled about how the brothers hogged the coveted spaces in the front of the clubhouse.

She winced and backed up carefully until the front wheel rolled off the curb, causing the car to bounce. Her coupe was her baby; it was a gift from Puck when she got her driver’s license at sixteen. One advantage of growing up with a club full of bikers was that a dozen pairs of hands could work on any bike or car her little heart desired. Although she looked kick-ass in her Squad leather jacket and a pair of chaps, she herself didn’t ride. She loved riding on the back of a bike, but all those oil stains. Ugh. So not for her. She may have a few quirks for a biker bitch, but these were her people and she was theirs. She was the mascot baby of the Squad and she had zero issues with it. She loved being coddled. She whipped off her seat belt and screeched when the stretch of nylon caught a few of her long, dark curly tresses as it retracted. “Goddamn,” she yelled as she disentangled her hair. Seriously, she was a hot mess. Throwing the car door open, Sammi grabbed her handbag and lifted herself out.

Growing up, the brothers and bitches lovingly teased her about the stacks of Vogue and Elle magazines she’d go through in one afternoon, sitting up by the bar. She was unabashed in her love for all things fashion. Drooling over Carrie’s outfits on the reruns of Sex and the City made her realize that she wanted to be a personal stylist. Although, her take on styling had a certain twist.

Didn’t make her any less of a biker bitch, and she’d kick anyone’s ass who suggested otherwise. Her gaze flicked down to her black patent leather Jimmy Choos. Or, she’d simply get Puck to kick their ass. His shoe choices were ever more appropriate for ass kicking. She ground down on her back molars. Or, at least would have been if he wasn’t in jail.

Sammi tore through the clubhouse door, as much as a girl wearing four-inch heels could, and scanned the bar and couches of the main room. Her gaze passed over the bar, with its club banner sporting the Squad logo in bold Germanic lettering hanging over it. Crossing over the large area usually used as a dance floor during parties, her gaze bounced off the wall of windows at the back near the pool table. Then it swept back up to the lounge area where she finally spotted Sage. She was leaning back on one of the beat-up black leather couches with Kingdom at her side. Her heart melted when he reached over and rubbed Sage’s protruding belly. A sigh of relief whispered past Sammi’s lips as she hurried across the unswept floor (those prospects are falling down on the job, yo), waved to brothers at the bar, and reached Sage.

“What the hell did the moron do?” Sammi spat out without bothering to greet them. Unbuttoning her dark plaid, fitted winter coat, she threw it over the back of the couch and plopped down beside her friend.

Sage turned to her, startled, and instantly brought her in for a tight embrace. “It’s not his fault. It’s mine, and I feel so guilty.”

“I assure you,” Sammi drawled with narrowed eyes, “it’s not your fault. He’s an idiot. It’s always his fault. He invites trouble.”

Shaking her head resolutely, Sage explained, “I didn’t think her ex-husband would show up so I didn’t warn Puck ahead of time. Should’ve known better. I didn’t prep him adequately.” Tears popped out from the corners of her eyes, and Kingdom’s hand clasped Sage’s knee.

Grabbing her shoulders, Sammi shook her gently. “No, Sage, Puck would never have tolerated a man laying hands on a woman in his presence. Regardless of what you did or didn’t tell him, regardless of how you prepped him, he would’ve gotten involved.”

“Sometimes an abuser backs off when they get a restraining order, sometimes they come at the survivor harder. I was sure Kerri’s ex was the back-off type.”

“Kerri? Oh, hell no. Puck would’ve never put up with another man touching her. She’s under Squad protection.”

“It’s true,” inserted Kingdom.

“He should’ve called the police once that man showed up and threatened Kerri,” insisted Sage.

“Wasn’t going to happen. Not by a long shot. Kerri’s ex is a biker from that weekend riding club right outside of town, in the suburbs. There’s no way in hell he’d call the police. He’d deal with it himself,” reiterated Sammi. “You can’t blame yourself. Puck’s a grown-ass man, and he did what he felt he had to do.”

“Yeah, but did he have to confess to the policemen in the squad car?” Sage griped. “That was pure stupidity. He should’ve known better.”

“By that point, he might’ve been in a temper, and you know Puck in a temper,” interjected Kingdom.

“The court has five days from his arrest to set his arraignment, but it’s Judge Korman, and you know how he is. Puck pistol-whipped Kerri’s ex, so there’s going to be a felony weapons complaint on top of assault and battery. This is a guesstimate, but we’re looking at bail set at fifty thousand cash or a bond of one hundred thousand dollars, at best. Worst case scenario, Puck won’t get out on bail.” Groaning, Sage pressed her fingertips to her forehead. “And Kerr’s ex fled the scene, so we have a madman roaming free, preparing to do God knows what.”

“Bail won’t be an issue,” intoned Kingdom.

“No, Korman will be our main problem throughout this ordeal. I’ll see Puck tomorrow morning before the arraignment. I’ve checked, and he’s already in Central Booking at the courthouse.”

Arraignment. Central Booking. Bail. Court. Prison. So many scary words jumbled together in her mind. The last word, especially, was doing a loop-de-loop in her head. She’d never lived without Puck. Sure, he’d gone on rides, or left for brief periods for jobs, but he always came back to her. She could take care of herself, but the idea of her big brother being in prison…. She shook off the horrific images crowding her brain. He’ll survive. Puck could do anything he put his mind to. Yet, the thought of him behind bars with dangerous, violent people day in, day out terrified her. Sammi wiped her brow. “This is a mess.”

Sage grabbed Sammi’s hands in hers. “I’m so sorry, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to get him out.”

Staring into Sage’s clouded eyes, Sammi replied, “I trust you. I can’t believe he bragged about what he’d done. Idiot.”

“Yeah, you know Puck,” Sage breathed out, chin sinking to her chest.

“We’ll get through this,” said Kingdom.

Sage raised her head and gave Sammi a pleading look. “I’ve already talked to Puck. He doesn’t want you at court.”

Charging to her feet, her fists slammed on her curvy hips. “What?!” Fury and frustration boiled over inside her. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Puck had gotten arrested, this overprotective nonsense of his was going too far.

Sage gazed down at her hands. “I’m sorry. He made me promise that you weren’t to see him in court.”

Sammi flung a curly, dark lock of hair out of her face and huffed out, “Oh, hell no, that is not happening. I am seeing him, Sage. He can go fuck himself. He gets arrested and then he thinks he can shut me out. Not. Happening. You can’t keep me away.”

“I made a promise,” she replied in a small voice.

“That’s a promise you’ll have to break because there’s no way I’m sitting outside the courtroom while my big brother gets arraigned.”

“It’s not just you. He doesn’t want any of the brothers there,” Sage persisted. “It makes sense, since Judge Korman hates bikers so much.”

“Look at me,” Sammi swept her hands down her consignment-bought Fendi turtleneck sweater and the fitted pencil skirt that hugged her generous hips. She’d rushed to the clubhouse from a new client appointment, so she was dressed to impress. Hooking her thumbs around the thin leather belt looped around her trim waist, she declared, “Since I started my business, I don’t dress like a biker. If anything, I look like his rich, fashionable cousin from his mother’s side, once removed. There’s no reason not to let me in there.”

“I promised him.” Sage lifted her pleading face up to Sammi.

“It doesn’t matter. I could see if I went dressed in a short leather skirt and halter top, but I’ll be walking in there dressed for a funeral. Because it will be. It’ll be his funeral once I’m done tearing into him.”

Sage buried her face in her hands and groaned. “I don’t need this drama.”

Tugging Sage’s hands off her face, Sammi complied, “Okay, okay, no drama. I’ll behave…I promise. I’ll be dressed to perfection and act accordingly, but you have to let me be there, Sage.” She had to see him. Imagine if they didn’t get him out on bail. She didn’t know how long it would be until the next opportunity came around. And he could very well refuse to see her. Her hands balled into fists. With his overprotective streak, Puck could be obscenely stubborn. No, it was her best chance to make sure he was okay and to show him she cared, even if it came through a volley of curses and shouting. Once she looked into his big brown eyes, ones so similar to hers, and confirmed that the idiot was safe, she’d get back to being tough as nails.

Kingdom chimed in, “Let her be there. I’ll take the heat for it. If he has an issue with it, tell him that she has my permission to attend on behalf of the club.”

Sage shook her head. “Oh, I’m not telling him anything before the arraignment. I’m going to talk to him in the attorney-client booth right before court and I need him focused on my explanation of the proceedings. It’s his only chance of understanding what’s going to happen in there.”

“He might go ballistic in court,” suggested Sammi, “but he’ll have to suck it up.”

“Might is an understatement, but at least I’ll have his complete attention during my time with him. I wonder who the prosecutor will be.” Her brows gathered. “I haven’t seen Stanton around, which is unusual. At least I won’t have to deal with him and Korman.”

“There you go,” said Sammi. “I’m sorry for the added stress, especially with the pregnancy, but you do understand, don’t you? I have to see him. Not just to make sure he’s okay, because I’m betting the other guy didn’t have a chance in hell against him, but I have to be there for him, whether he wants me to or not. He’s always been there for me,” she ended in a murmur.

Taking her hand, Sage replied solemnly, “I understand, Sammi, of course I understand. I feel obliged to follow my client’s instructions, but being an attorney is about taking care of the family as well as the client. And you’re not just Puck’s family, you’re part of my family, too.”

Swallowing, Sammi allowed Sage to draw her into a hug. “Thank you, Sage. Same here.” Sage had become like an older sister to her. They’d grown closer, especially since Abby and Greta joined the Squad as old ladies of Loki and Cutter. Of course, after Sammi swooped in to save Abby from being mauled by a jealous bitch at her first club party, they quickly bonded and the rest was history.

Sammi’s hand slid over Sage’s belly and rubbed it. Sage had trouble staying pregnant, and the whole clubhouse was ecstatic over the baby coming in a few months. A wave of excitement and warm, chocolatey gooiness melted in Sammi’s chest.

Leaning her face close to Sage’s belly, Sammi crooned, “Hi baby baby, how are you doing in there today?” She felt a small kick against her hand and yanked her hand off, a peal of laughter bursting out. “Oh my God, Sage! Baby just talked back to me.”

Leaning over again, she resumed her one-way conversation, “Are you talking to me, little one? I think you’re a little guy. You’re too active, doing kickboxing moves in there. You want to get out and get on a bike like your daddy, don’t you?”

“Don’t give him or her any ideas,” Sage chided. “Although, I’m starting to lean into the idea that it’s a boy.”

“There’s an easy way to find out,” suggested Sammi slyly. Sage and Kingdom had decided they wanted to have a surprise in the delivery room.

“Not going to happen,” muttered Kingdom.

Sammi folded her arms over her chest. “This isn’t just your baby, you know. It’s going to be my little niece or nephew. Can’t we find out and you guys stay ignorant till the end?”

Kingdom snorted. “With the way the brothers are? Hell no. They’re worse than a pair of gossiping grandmas. After they use the information to taunt me about it, someone will break and spill their guts. Not happening.”

“So selfish,” she mumbled half-heartedly. Always the youngest in her family and in the Squad, Sammi was looking forward to the next generation. Until recently, Puck and the Squad satisfied her very real need for family. She didn’t grow up with a father, and her mother died suddenly when she was thirteen years old. Puck joined the Squad soon after but didn’t bring her in until he’d patched in and felt it was safe for her. That left her with two very lonely years. So grateful for her new extended family, she didn’t think she’d ever need more. She hadn’t even had a real boyfriend yet. If she had an itch to scratch, she hooked up and moved on.

But seeing Sage, and now Abby, glowing with the happiness of upcoming motherhood had kicked up a new set of feelings. Shockingly, it included a yearning for her own child. Sammi may have always been the youngest, but she’d grown up fast. Hell, she certainly felt older than her twenty-one years.