Bent, Not Broken Read online

  All good humor and arousal left him as he closed his burner cell phone. He was pissed off; what he’d done to Amy’s father was sick, yet he hadn’t cared. Not a second had gone by when he actually cared about the pain he was creating. Was this the kind of man he was? He wouldn’t dream of inflicting pain on anyone else unless they hurt the ones he cared about.

  Bruce had been a scumbag, and he didn’t doubt there were plenty more to fill the gap. Entering the kitchen, he smiled at Amy so she wouldn’t know anything was wrong. There were kids, women, men who were all suffering because of assholes like Bruce. He’d set Amy free by killing that bastard. Would he do it again? He killed for the club but never for sport. Could he look in the mirror and call himself a decent man?

  “Are you okay, Joker?” Amy asked.

  She cupped his cheek at the same time she put a plate full of breakfast in front of him. He went to protest when he saw her plate wasn’t full as his.

  “Tell me you’re happy, Amy.”

  “I’m happy. I’m with you and everything is great in the world. How can I not be happy?”

  She smiled at him and any fight in Joker disappeared. He didn’t want to work for Zeke or be part of that bastard’s life, any more than he had to be. He was a member of the Soldiers of Wrath, but if he could help others by doing what came naturally to him, then he’d do it. He’d do it for the club, for Zeke, for the people he’d help, but he’d also do it for Amy. One less scumbag on the street made it easier for him to let her walk out there alone.

  “Joker,” Amy said, grabbing his attention.

  “What is it, baby?”

  He took a large pancake, pushing it into his mouth. Amy scrunched up her nose. “What? It tastes delicious.”

  “I love you.”

  Joker stared at the love of his life. Reaching over the counter, he touched her cheek, caressing her soft skin. Leaving her had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, staying away, even harder. This, being with her, was his reward for keeping the distance.

  “You own my heart, Amy, you always have. I love you, and I promise I’m not going to let anything happen to you ever again.” It was a promise he intended to keep.

  They rode toward the large college town of Portsmouth to pick up Zeke’s daughter Daniella. It was three hours from Auberdanne, the city where The Soldiers of Wrath held camp. Three of the members were riding on their bikes in front of the SUV Joker was driving. Demon and Shakes were in the vehicle with him. They were silent, nearly at their destination, and had to deal with the trip back with the pampered daughter of the man that Joker still considered their enemy because of how it went down with Deanna. The fact that they were helping Zeke, the man that had crossed them, pissed Joker off, too. But Zeke could still do damage, he was deadly, had an army behind him, and part of their agreement was helping him when he asked.

  “I bet she is one uptight bitch,” Shakes said from the backset. They had all been thinking that. Her father was a coldhearted sonofabitch, and because of that, they could only imagine what she was like.

  “And why couldn’t he do this himself, or get one of his fucking henchmen to pick her up like a damn taxi service?” Shakes asked again, his annoyance clear.

  “Man, I don’t know, but bitching about it isn’t going to make this trip any better,” Demon said. All of them were annoyed that they had to drop what they were doing just to go pick up the underground Princess.

  Joker didn’t want to leave Amy, not after they had finally found a good place in their relationship, but she was safe at home, and that thought was getting him through this. He hated having to be at the beck and call of some psycho that had the club by the balls.

  “So, Amy is yours now, yeah?” Demon asked. Joker glanced at the President of club and saw the other man staring straight ahead. Joker had known this was where the conversation would go once they were trapped inside this metal box on wheels.

  “I want her as my old lady, have claimed her, and ain’t nothing stopping me from making Amy fully mine.”

  “I hear that and understand,” Demon said.

  “I don’t understand any of that woman and old lady shit. Man, I’ll stay single and fuck all the sweet-ass pussy I can get my dick into.” Shakes said from the backseat, his voice growing a little more animated. Shakes had never made it a secret that he didn’t want an old lady. Hell, the man got more cunt in the clubhouse than most of the members put together. He was a man-whore to the nth degree.

  “A lot of shit has happened in her past, shit that I won’t even go into, but I am not about to turn my back on her or let her go. She’s mine.”

  “Whatever gets you off, man. I don’t have anything to bitch about that because it’s your life. But for me,” Shakes said, “I don’t want any woman to tie my ass down. I’ll be doing the tying down.” Shakes started laughing, and they all knew that the brother liked to get down and dirty with the women he screwed.

  Demon switched on the radio, and rock blasted through the SUV. That was their cue to end their conversation and focus on the task at hand. They drove the rest of the way in silence. When they pulled up to the university that Zeke’s daughter attended, all Joker wanted to do was turn the shit around and get home to his old lady. They pulled to a stop in front of the main building of the university, but he couldn’t see who in the hell they were looking for. Zeke was supposed to have sent a picture to their cells, but of course, the motherfucker hadn’t done that. Zeke had assured them that Daniella knew to be on the lookout for them and would contact him when she was safely with them.

  “She’s probably one of those made-up bitches that has all the luxuries her piece of shit underground father gives her.” Shakes said, but no one responded.

  Joker stared out the passenger side window, watched as the kids came and went out of the main building, before he saw a young woman that was probably the daughter of that piece of shit. She had long blonde hair, tight as fuck clothes that left little to the imagination with several guys hanging around her. She had one of those little designer purses hanging from her arm, a cell pressed to her ear, and even from this distance, he could see how much make-up she had plastered on her face.

  “I bet that’s the bitch right there,” Demon said, and Joker nodded even though neither of the members were looking at him. She pushed her way through the crowd, looked like she had a stick up her ass. Joker knew that whoever was tied to Zeke was probably just as fucked up as he was. The blonde looked at them and started making her way toward the SUV. Before she got to them, a red convertible pulled up, stopped between the SUV and the Harleys, and the blonde climbed in.

  “Okay, so not Zeke’s uppity bitch daughter,” Shakes said, and they all watched as more people filed out of the building. Another five minutes and Joker was getting pissed because all he wanted was to get back home. But then, there amongst the crowd of pierced, tattooed, and preppy punks, was this mousy young woman with nerdy as fuck looks. She was on the shorter side, definitely plump, and not like the other females walking around in skintight clothing. Her looks screamed she either didn’t care, or she didn’t know what the hell she was doing.

  Joker took notice of her because she was pulling out her phone, staring at the Harleys and SUV like she was confused as hell, then started dialing a number on her phone.

  “I think that’s her,” Demon said, and pointed to the brunette. After a moment, she closed her phone, looking slightly annoyed, and moved closer to the SUV. The closer she got the clearer her looks became. She had pin straight brown hair, her bangs touched her glasses, and her cardigan looked a size too large. Her long plaid skirt touched her ankles and the black Mary Jane style shoes she wore screamed school-girl-geek.

  “That’s her?” Shakes asked, his confusion clear in his voice.

  Joker glanced at him in the rear view mirror. “She’s coming closer, so I’m gonna say yeah.”

  “Damn, she isn’t anything like I imagined.” Shakes stared out the window. “She’s kind of a hot mess in a fuckab
le way.”

  Demon and Joker both turned fully in their seats to stare at him. “Man, remember whose kid this is. No fucking her just because you want to stick your dick in any warm pussy.”

  “Unless you want your cock cut off and fed to you by Zeke and his men, I’d say back the fuck away from that idea,” Joker said.

  The sound of someone tapping on the passenger side window had all of them facing Zeke’s daughter.

  “You’re here to pick me up, right?” she asked, her words muffled through the glass.

  Demon rolled down the window, and she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She was a cute girl in a very non-made up way. She was plain Jane for sure, endearing maybe, but she was Zeke’s daughter. Because of that he had this bitter taste in his mouth.

  “You’re Daniella?”

  She nodded.

  “Zeke’s kid?” Shakes asked, and Joker saw him in the rear view mirror move closer to the passenger side window. She scrunched her nose, as if disgusted to hear Shakes say that, and Joker found that confusing.

  “Yeah, I’m related to him,” her voice was distant, slightly soft, but most definitely disgusted.

  Demon turned and glanced at Joker, his dark eyebrow lifted as if he, too, was surprised at hearing her say that. Joker’s phone vibrated, and he grabbed it out to see Zeke had messaged him.

  Zeke: Daniella said you’re there.

  Joker: Yeah. We’re heading out now.

  “That was Zeke; we better head out.” He looked over at the two club members ahead of him, gave them the motion to go, and he gestured for Daniella to climb in the backseat. Shakes opened the door for her from the inside, grabbed her bag when she set it on the seat, and Joker watched her climb in. Once the door was shut, Joker continued to stare at her in the rear view mirror. The way she had reacted when they mentioned Zeke led him to believe she might just hate him as much as they did. Shakes was watching her, too, and Joker wanted to smack him upside the head, because the look on the other man’s face screamed that he didn’t care about anything but getting his dick wet with this young woman.

  “Let’s roll, man,” Demon said, and Joker snapped out of his thought and started the engine. He pulled out of the parking lot and followed the bikes back onto the highway. It would be a long three hours in the car, especially with Daniella looking stiff as fuck, uncomfortable, and trapped in the metal box with three badass bikers.

  Amy stared at Deanna and three women that were known as sweet-ass in the club. She knew, at least she had heard, what being a sweet-butt meant, and it slightly nauseated her. To know that a woman would willingly share her body with men she didn’t really know, and would have no relationship connection with, baffled her. She had never been with anyone sexually—willingly that is—aside from Joker. Her bastard father didn’t count.

  “You have a lot on your mind,” Deanna said, and glanced up from the pot of spaghetti sauce she was stirring. “I can see the thoughts moving across your face as if you’re worked up about something.”

  She stared at the other woman, knew from Joker that she had been given to the club as payment by her father. Her own father. But she also knew that Deanna was a strong woman. Amy and Joker had talked about the shit that had gone down with Deanna, and although Amy knew club business was not her business, she knew Joker had been honest with her. As she stared at Deanna, knowing that her deadbeat father had traded his daughter because of a debt, Amy knew that her life now wasn’t as bad as it could be. Yes, she’d had a shitty past, had lost her mother far too soon, but she was alive and trying to live a healthy life.

  “I know you’re thinking what I thought when I first got here.”

  Amy didn’t answer, but smiled.

  “I was thinking how in the hell could these women essentially whore themselves out? I mean they fuck any and all of them at the snap of a finger, and for what, in hopes of being an old lady or something?”

  Amy nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, but I know that I shouldn’t think and worry about what others do. My life certainly hasn’t been perfect, and I have no right to judge others.”

  “Sweetheart,” Deanna set the spoon down. “We can judge, because we’ve lived a shitty life, know what it means to have to struggle, and because of that, we see things on a different level.”

  Amy knew what Deana was speaking about and understood where she came from. She’d been an introvert her whole life, and she knew it was because of what had happened to her. To give her body willingly to a man in hopes that he’d love her, just seemed… wrong and sad.

  “You’re doing okay here though?”

  Amy thought about Deanna’s question. She had only been here for a few hours, and so far everyone had been nice and accepting. The women that walked around made her a little uncomfortable, because she thought about Joker being here, seeing them, wanting them, and being with them.

  “Hun, he doesn’t want anyone but you,” Deanna said and smiled, and Amy realized she hadn’t thought those words, but rather, said them aloud. “There are all these girls walking around, their bodies on parade, and the raunchy shit they do out on display.” Deanna shook her head. “When one of these men claims a woman as their old lady, there isn’t anyone or anything that will deter them from having them fully.” A smile filtered across Deanna’s face, and Amy knew that the woman, even if she had been here against her will at first, was totally, madly in love with Demon.

  “You’re really happy here?” Amy asked her and Deanna didn’t even hesitate.

  “I am, and I know that if you allow yourself to realize you deserve to be happy, then you’ll be happy here, too.”

  Amy knew that and knew that Joker was the one for her. She just needed to realize and accept that she was worthy of being loved and being happy.

  After Amy finished eating Deanna’s spaghetti, they made the trip back to David’s. Before Joker had headed out on this trip, they’d promised they wouldn’t stay too long at the clubhouse alone. She was glad they were heading out. The thought of spending any more time with the women who used their bodies to attract the club members made her uncomfortable. She’d never be like those women.

  “So, you and Joker?” Deanna asked. “Who knew he could be like that?”

  Amy chuckled. “You sound surprised. Joker’s not someone you should underestimate. He’ll surprise you.” Amy smiled thinking about the Reese she had grown up with.

  “He cares about you. Anyone with eyes can see that,” Deanna said, reaching over to touch her hand.

  “How do you handle this? When the men go on jobs?”

  “I don’t handle it. To be honest, I’ve not had a lot of experience with this. Demon and I, we’re very new, really new, actually.”

  “Do you love him? I mean, after everything you’ve been through, do you love him?”

  “Of course; Demon is the only man I’ve ever loved. I know our situation is not normal for most couples but who needs normal? I love being with him. The club isn’t all that bad. You just have to take what you love and leave what you don’t.” Deanna ran fingers through her hair as she weaved her way through traffic.

  “Is that what you did? Take what you liked?”

  “Being Demon’s old lady, I don’t really have a lot of room to choose what I like. He needs me to be strong at his side.” Deanna bit her lip. Amy couldn’t look away. She really wanted to make this work with Joker. “You know Demon’s the President of the Soldiers, right?”

  “Yes, Joker told me.”

  “Then you know it’s going to be different for every woman. Before Demon, I was all alone. My mom had passed away shortly before all this happened, and I didn’t have anyone. Then out of the blue, the shit happened and my father gave me to the Soldiers to pay a debt. I met Demon and even though it was tough, something eventually just clicked between us. Do you ever have that with Joker? Where it doesn’t matter what you’ve been through, you’ve got that connections?”

  Tilting her head to the side, Amy thought about Jok
er. Her man, the one she could talk to about anything and not be afraid. “Yes, I’ve got that with Joker.”

  “That’s how I can handle the club.”

  “Aren’t you worried he’s going to use those other women when you’re not around?”

  “Honey, I don’t let him get the chance to be with anyone else.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know why men stray, but I’m not going to let my Demon get away from me. I’ll be whatever he wants me to be. He gives me the freedom to be myself, never judging me. I love him with my whole heart and I love sex just as much as he does.”

  Amy thought about Joker and his touch. The way his hands caressed and stroked her.

  “I see you know what I’m talking about.”

  “It’s down at the end of the street, last house on the left,” she said, pointing out the window. Deanna followed her directions.

  “You know you can talk to me, right?” Deanna asked. “I’m not going to run back to Demon and talk about this. It would be totally gross.”

  Amy laughed. “I’m not a very, um, open person.”

  “Neither am I. I like you, Amy. There’s something about you. It could just be the fact I know you’re not going to try to steal my man.” Deanna parked the car. “This is a nice place. My old place was a shit hole.”

  “This is my parents’ house. My mom, she passed away recently. David, my step-dad, Joker’s dad, he lives here. I crash here every now and then.” She climbed out of the car. There was no sign of David’s vehicle. “It’s a nice area though, quiet. Not a lot of kids.”

  “I love kids. I want a ton of them. I just hope Demon can keep up with the supply I want,” Deanna said.

  “You want kids?”