Walking The Line (Satan's Knights Prospect Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  This was also about the time I found out Frankie’s father was the president of the Satan’s Knights Motorcycle Club and his brother was a prospect. My dad was the district attorney and his mission in life was to put my boyfriend’s father behind bars—to say things went from bad to worse real quick would be an understatement.

  However, as bad as they got…today took the cake.

  After my father threw me out, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have my phone to call Frankie, so I walked to our school. He was finishing up practice when he spotted me, and I just started crying.

  For five months I didn’t cry, which is probably crazy…a normal teenage girl would be hysterical. But not me. As bad as things were, I had Frankie, and I truly believed in my heart we would figure it out—we just ran out of time.

  I expected Frankie to freak out like he did when he realized the condom broke, but he surprised me by remaining calm. It was like he was relieved. I knew that couldn’t be true, but still, that’s what it felt like. He told his coach he had to leave and drove to his dad’s house, declaring his brother would know what to do.

  I hadn’t met Nico yet, but he was becoming our hero. Riding in when we needed money, talking Frankie off the ledge, (ironic, I know) and giving advice when needed. I was praying Frankie was right, Nico would know what to do.

  We walked into the house and there was no sign of Frankie’s older brother. However, there was a big beastly man sitting at the dining room table eating baked ziti out of one of those aluminum throw away trays and an elegantly dressed woman padded around him, vacuuming the carpet under the table.

  This was Frankie’s father, Wolf, and his stepmom, Maria.

  Wolf lifted his head, the fork full of pasta stilled at his lips and a smile peeked from his beard as he greeted his son.

  Instead of saying hello to his father and his stepmom, Frankie lost his fucking mind and blurted out I was pregnant. It was like he was having an out-of-body experience and all I could do was stare in shock, watching as my sweet boyfriend spilled his guts.

  The next thing I knew, the ziti was on the floor and all hell broke loose. Maria traded her vacuum for a mop and Wolf started screaming. To make matters worse, because, you know, God hated me, the front door slammed shut and the suicidal water fairy I met two months ago on the side of an overpass, came barging in like he lived there or something.

  Turns out he does.

  It also turns out that the man who fetched me crackers and gave me water is Nico—Frankie’s older brother, the guy who paid for me to go to a doctor and has been giving such sound advice to my boyfriend.

  Oh, and guess what? Apparently, he’s my roommate now too.

  Like I said, holy fuck.

  Nico pushes off the front door, slowly turning to face me. The silence cuts through the air and I almost wish for all the hollering to return but seeing as Wolf, Maria and Frankie have all left, that doesn’t seem feasible. I lift my eyes to his, expecting to find the same bit of emptiness reflected in them as there was the night I met him on the overpass but instead, he glares at me with anger.

  I quickly decide I don’t like this version of the Water Fairy and I cross my arms against my chest. He takes two steps towards me; his motorcycle boots slapping against the wood floor and comes to a stop. The vein bulging in his forehead matches the one his father had earlier, and I note that it isn’t the only similarity the father and son duo share. Both are tall, heavily covered in tattoos and wear leather vests.

  I think back to the night I met him, he was wearing that same vest, and I hadn’t made the connection. Maybe Frankie hadn’t let on about his family being part of a motorcycle club until after that night. Still, when I did know, I didn’t think that the man who nearly ended his life before he spotted me throwing up could be Frankie’s brother.

  Swallowing, I continue to stare at him, quietly wondering if Frankie knows the brother he looks up to most is in love with a woman he can’t have. That he’s so broken up about her, he almost threw himself into traffic.

  “So, um…roommates, huh?” I croak.

  He doesn’t reply. Instead, he takes another step closer and curls his fists at his side. His dark eyes continue to shoot daggers at me, and I search his face, hoping to find some sort of resemblance to my Frankie. To my sweet and innocent boyfriend.

  However, I quickly learn Nico is nothing like his little brother.

  Nothing at all.

  “Give me your phone,” he growls, clenching his teeth so hard they look like they might shatter.

  “What?” I ask, slightly dumbfounded.

  “Your phone,” he repeats. “Hand it over.”

  “I don’t have my phone.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Well, that’s just rude.

  Arching a brow, I open my mouth to tell him he can take the whole tough guy routine down a notch, but he takes another step closer—so close I get a waft of his cologne. Another difference between him and his brother seeing as Frankie doesn’t wear cologne.

  “I don’t know what kind of game you and your old man are playing, but it fucking ends here. It’s one thing for that piece of shit to fuck with my father, it’s another when he pushes his teenage daughter on my brother.”

  Wait. What?

  Anger simmers in my veins and I narrow my gaze at the Water Fairy turned idiot.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Give me the phone Green Eyes. I didn’t forget about your daddy’s tracking device.”

  I tamper down the shock coursing through me and drop a hand to my hip as I cock my head and deliver a fake smile.

  “Oh, so you do remember me, Water Fairy.”

  “The name is Nico, kid,” he growls.

  Thrusting my free hand at him, I nod.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Carina.”

  His eyes dart to my extended hand and his lip curls in disgust before bringing those brown eyes back to my face.

  “I know your fucking name, girl, I’m the one who did up your fake I.D. which brings me to my next question, why didn’t you use it?”

  “I did use it,” I argue, letting my hand fall back to my side.

  “You said the doctor’s office called your cell, and that’s how your old man found out you were pregnant,” he says, his tone accusatory as he raises an eyebrow, challenging me.

  “It wasn’t actually the doctor’s office who called to remind me of my appointment,” I explain. “Apparently at twenty weeks you need to have an anatomy scan and it’s done in a different office. I’m not used to having two identities,” I spat. “I made an appointment with my real name.”

  “You expect me to believe that?”

  “I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not,” I sneer, feeling my cheeks flush. “I’m not playing any kind of game, but you know what, I’m not so sure you aren’t playing me.”

  “The fuck you talking about?” he hisses.

  I’m not entirely sure what the fuck I’m talking about, but I’m not about to back down now. Not when I’ve somehow managed to take the heat off myself for a split second.

  “Nice to see you didn’t jump,” I grind out.

  As soon as the words leave my lips, I realize goading the beast in front of me is a mistake. His hand reaches out, and he roughly grabs my bicep, pulling me towards him as he leans down, his breath at my ear while his fingers dig into my skin.

  “Shut your fucking mouth, Green Eyes.”

  Ignoring the pain in my arm, I turn my head and I fucking snap. I lose my mind and rightfully so, I mean, I’m seventeen, pregnant, and my dad basically disowned me. To add insult to injury, I’m stuck with this guy. Tears fill my eyes and all the weight I’ve been carrying, all the worry and uncertainty, suddenly becomes too heavy and I project my anger onto Frankie’s brother.

  “Did your girlfriend go back to her husband?” I hiss.

  His fingers cut deeper into my skin before he releases me with a jerk. He doesn’t move, though, as his eyes come to mine.

 
“Let’s get something straight,” he whispers. “You don’t get to hold that over my head, as far as I’m concerned, that night never happened. You don’t fucking bring it up again. Not to me, not to Maria or my father and you sure as fuck don’t say a word to my brother. You forget what you think you saw and that we ever met before today. You got me?”

  I don’t reply.

  Mainly because I don’t trust my voice, but also because I don’t think he deserves a response. He’s a shit, a real shit.

  “I’m waiting,” he growls.

  “I don’t like you,” I reply hoarsely.

  “You don’t have to like me,” he says. “I’m not a fan of yours either. You’re the girl my brother knocked up and somehow, I’m the one stuck babysitting your ass.”

  Swallowing hard past the lump in my throat, I will my tears not to fall.

  “Let me be clear, Green Eyes, I won’t let anyone fuck with my brother and you don’t get a pass because you’re carrying his kid. If you so much as try to call your father, I will make you regret the day you were born.”

  I don’t know what the beef is between my dad and these people, but I’m starting to get the idea it’s pretty fucking serious. Do I think my dad will press statutory rape charges against Frankie like Wolf suggested? It’s a strong possibility. My dad doesn’t like scandal and if he felt his job would somehow suffer as a result of my pregnancy, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to save face.

  “You don’t leave this house. You need something, you tell me or Frankie. I prefer you tell me because my brother’s got stars in his eyes when it comes to you.”

  “I won’t leave,” I say quietly. “Did you miss the part where I said my dad threw me out?”

  “Didn’t miss shit, darlin’, I just don’t trust your ass. You might be able to pull the wool over Frankie’s eyes, but that’s only because he’s young and you’re the first piece of ass he’s gotten.”

  My bravado cracks at those words and a gasp flies past my lips.

  “I didn’t pull the wool over Frankie’s eyes.”

  “Girl, your belly says otherwise. Now, come on…” he says as he takes a step away from me and turns.

  Staring at the reaper on his back and the prospect patch below it, I clear my throat.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m showing you to your room, princess,” he replies without looking at me.

  I watch as he starts for the stairs and for a moment, I contemplate staying put, but I fear that will only make things worse for me. I don’t know what the hell Nico’s problem is, and I don’t care to find out. As shitty as it sounds, I wish I never met him because if I hadn’t, well, then maybe he wouldn’t be here.

  Maybe he would’ve jumped.

  -Three-

  Nico

  I’m a dick.

  I first surmised this last night when I heard Carina crying in the bedroom, I had set her up in. It was after Frankie called my cell and asked to speak with her. I thought about denying the request, mainly because I didn’t trust the situation, but also because I don’t know what to make of Carina. The last thing I needed was Green Eyes telling anyone what she knew about me.

  But this wasn’t about me and my bullshit and I had to remind myself of that.

  It was about Frankie, this girl, and their kid. It was also about her fucking father nailing him and possibly our father, to the cross. My brother was in over his head and thinking with his dick. He had no idea just how much trouble her old man could cause...I should’ve been keener on making this known before the shit hit the fan. Lord knows I had the chance with all the times he called me looking for advice, but I was too busy pining over Lacey to give a damn about anything else.

  I told myself that was going to change and gave Green Eyes the phone. She slammed the door in my face, and I stood outside the bedroom while they talked, vowing to have a chat of my own with my brother. I’d open Frankie’s eyes to the situation, make him understand how this could play out, and with any luck, he’d pull his head out of his ass and realize this girl was trouble.

  It seemed like a solid plan until I remembered there was going to be a kid in the mix. My brother’s kid and apparently, now my godchild. What the hell were any of us going to do with this baby?

  We were fucked.

  So fucking fucked.

  When she was finished with the call, she opened the door and threw the phone in the hallway, not bothering to look at me. I figured if she told my brother I was a dick to her, he’d want a word with me and seeing as he had hung up, I also guessed she kept her mouth shut.

  Deciding to leave everything alone for the rest of the night, I took a shower, heated up my mom’s crab sauce and settled into my room for the night, leaving the door ajar in case Green Eyes decided to make a run for it.

  Later, Lacey called. It wasn’t unusual for her to pick up the phone and most nights I looked forward to it. She was lonely, missing her husband and needed a friend, someone she could talk to and I ate that shit up, taking whatever fucking crumb she tossed my way.

  However, this time, I wasn’t in the mood to be her sounding board or the poor schlep who ran out in the middle of the night to get her a tub of ice cream. I sent her fucking call to voicemail and turned on the television, finding an episode of Impractical Jokers to occupy me until I fell asleep.

  Morning came, and I forgot I had a houseguest. With my gray sweats hanging low on my waist, I strode across the hall and made my way into the bathroom to handle my business. My dick was in my hand when I heard Carina gasp. There she stood in the doorway with her eyes wide, watching in horror as I took a piss.

  Yeah, we were fucked.

  So fucking fucked.

  I muttered a curse just as she snapped out of it and I watched, dick still in hand, as she bolted away from the door. Pulling up my sweats, I proceeded to flush. Then, I washed my hands and grabbed a clean shirt, cursing as I pulled it over my head. I didn’t like sharing my space with anyone, nor did I like having to bother with fucking clothes. I slept naked and most of the time I walked around wearing nothing but a pair of sweats — in case you missed it, I’m a firm believer in letting the boys downstairs breathe.

  I suppose that’s fucking gone now too.

  Sorry fella’s.

  Now, after partaking in a moment of silence to honor the demise of my swinging balls, I make my way downstairs to the kitchen. There, I find Carina standing in front of the coffee pot, wearing the same clothes she wore yesterday. She fills her mug as I cross the room and when I come up beside her, she quickly turns her back to me. Ignoring me as I reach for the coffee pot, she slowly brings the mug to her lips and takes a sip.

  “You shouldn’t be drinking coffee,” I chastise.

  “And you should close the bathroom door the next time you need to take a leak.”

  It’s my turn to ignore her and I do just that as I take my coffee mug and start for the fridge. I have no idea what the fuck I’m expected to do with her, but I know she needs to eat something. Pulling the door open, I inspect the fridge for something edible. Taking a quick inventory of the stick of pepperoni, the six-pack of beer, the rotten apple and because I didn’t feel like washing my mother’s Tupperware container, there’s also a forkful of macaroni and crab sauce sitting on the top shelf. I slam the fridge shut and move to the cabinets.

  Protein powder, more protein powder—ah hah!

  Grabbing the lone protein bar on the shelf, I turn to Carina and throw it at her. Unimpressed, she lets it drop to the floor. Her green eyes flit to mine and she defiantly takes another sip of her coffee.

  “Suit yourself, you’re only spiting the baby,” I tell her.

  The way I see it, if she bites her pride and takes the protein bar there is a glimmer of hope that she isn’t a complete con artist and we’re all overreacting, assuming the worst. I mean, she is young and clearly not in the business of making mature decisions, but if she can put her kid before anything else—well, that says something. If she doesn’t
, if she leaves the fucking protein bar on the floor, then it’s game on.

  No mercy.

  I watch as she draws her lower lip between her teeth and gently lays a hand over her tiny belly. Her stomach growls and her cheeks tint with embarrassment. If that isn’t confirmation that I am indeed a dick, I don’t know what else is. Sighing, I step towards her, bend at the knees and grab the bar from the floor.

  Tearing open the wrapper, I hold it out to her.

  “Eat the damn bar, Carrie.”

  I have no fucking idea why I call her Carrie, but as soon as the name leaves my lips, I decide I like the sound of it. It suits her more than Carina, more than Heather or Tiffany too.

  She looks from me to the protein bar, her hand still touching her stomach.

  “Carina,” she corrects, plucking the bar from my hand.

  “Know your name, Green Eyes,” I mutter, watching as she frowns and peels the wrapper down. Lifting the bar to her lips, she takes the smallest bite possible and I growl.

  The girl is stubborn as shit.

  Before either of us can argue anymore, the backdoor swings open and my brother, Enzo appears looking like he hasn’t slept in days. His bloodshot eyes move from me to Carrie and confusion mars his features.

  “Carina?”

  Taking another bite, she waves at him. Then his eyes fall to the hand still planted on her belly and he takes a step backward.

  “Whoa!” Enzo exclaims, his eyes going wide as saucers as he points to Carrie’s bump. “What the fuck is that?”

  “That is your niece or nephew,” I inform him, bringing the coffee cup to my lips. Enzo slices his wide eyes to me, and I swear they’re on the verge of falling out of their sockets.

  “Dude, what the fuck? She’s Frankie’s girlfriend!”

  Pulling the cup away from my lips, I set it down on the counter and look at my brother.

  He can’t be serious, can he?

  “The kid ain’t mine, asshole.”

  Relieved, he sighs, and his eyes return to their sockets before he roughly drags his fingers through his hair.

  “Good, because she’s like twelve.”

  “Seventeen,” Carrie mutters miserably as she shoves the rest of the protein bar into her mouth.