Page 212 of Misrule
Passing along the fob, Knox studied Outlaw closely. He removed the stand, then planted both boots on the ground, steadying the bike with ease. After lighting a cigarette, he touched different mechanisms, then thumbed a button and the bike flared to life.
He jammed the cigarette in the corner of his mouth, gave Knox a pointed look, grabbed the grips and started forward in one smooth motion. He rode the bike to the edge of the parking lot, then sped past where they all stood and went to the other end, before taking a full spin around the place. When he finished, he glided to a stop, stared at Knox, then rose from the seat, leaving the engine idling.
Intimidated, Knox stared at the bike. Outlaw had made it look so easy and smooth. The man rode with a fluidity that impressed Knox and also told him he didn’t have the qualifications to do the same.
The sound of sudden silence drew his attention.
Folding his arms, Mortician sighed. “I got a fucking joke for you.”
Knox swallowed, then nodded, for the first time feeling as if he fought a losing battle. If he got on the bike, he’d fall and they’d laugh at him.
“God called Satan and told him he had some motherfuckers that just wasn’t acting like they belonged in Heaven,” Mortician started. “He told Satan he had to send them to Hell. Having no choice, Satan told God to send them on. So the motherfuckers get there. They immediately start acting the fuck up. After a week, Satan calls God and says, “God, I got to send these motherfuckers back. They complaining about the living conditions down here. Stirring unrest among all the other motherfuckers. God said, ‘Satan, I sent them to you for a reason. They’re your problem. You deal with them’. Annoyed, the devil hung up the fucking phone. The next week, Satan telephoned God again. ‘Lord, you got to help me. The people you sent to me have been stealing from me. Some of my gold is missing. My coin collection gone. What am I supposed to do? Again, God said, Devil, you’re in charge of them. They are your problem. Frustrated, Lucifer hung up the phone. The next week, that old pitchfork-wielding bastard had had enough. God had to take these people back now. Furious, he dialed God’s number. ‘Yes, Devil, what can I do for you this week’? ‘God!’ Satan screeched. “I’m not keeping them any longer. These motherfuckers just put out my fire.”
Chuckles rose up around him. Knox didn’t want to laugh, but he did at the unexpected punchline. None of them, not even Cam, seemed affected by the disrespect of it all. They found humor wherever, and whenever, they could.
“See, Knox?” Outlaw offered into the silence, smoking yetagain. “It ain’t nothin’ but a thing. If you wanna learn to ride a fuckin’ bike, take a deep fuckin’ breath and learn. We was all scared our first time. You got unmatchable power between your thighs—and I ain’t talkin’ cocks cuz that shit a given. A bike, the road, un-fuckin-forgivin’. Yougottapay attention, but you still gotta have fuckin’ fun. We ain’t here to judge you. We here to fuckin’ help you. How many fuckin’ times I gotta tell you that?”
“Knox, son, it’s like this. I see what you doing to win my momma-in-law back. I respect that. I also realize you just talk out the side of your goddamn mouth because you don’t know how to back the fuck down. But Roxanne—”
“Knox!” As if speaking her name conjured her up, Roxanne ran at breakneck speed from the pathway that led to the houses. She skidded to a halt, out-of-breath.
“Roxanne, baby, what’s the matter?” he asked, alarmed at her condition. He rushed to her, automatically wrapping her in his arms when she hugged him. “What’s happened?”
“What are you doing?” she demanded, pushing away from him. “You’re going to kill yourself! Why the fuck would you buy a bike?”
Keeping Roxanne in his arms, Knox glared at the circle of men. “Who betrayed me?” No one responded, so he turned back to Roxanne and took her face between his hands. “You weren’t supposed to find out until after I learned.”
“Oh, Knox. Don’t do this for me. I don’t want you to learn to ride a bike to impress me. It’s not about that. It’s about your attitude.”
“Roxanne, please,” he begged. “I love you so much. Please…just…” He huffed in a breath, close to tears. “I want to be able to drive—”
Outlaw growled.
“Errideyou around every now and then. I want to make you happy. If you just…please, just give me a chance.”
She laughed through her tears. “You’re such a motherfucker, Knox.”
He smiled at her. “But I’m a motherfucker you love.”
Not denying it, she glanced away.
“Can we just talk? Please.”
She met his gaze. “Okay. We can talk. But I’m making no promises.”
“Fair enough, sweetheart.”
Wrapping his arm around Roxanne’s waist, he smiled at the claps and whistles. Maybe, he’d learn to ride, after all, finally understanding the camaraderie and brotherhood that made these men so close.
That could be decided on later. Right now, he’d seize the chance Roxanne was giving him. All because he was willing to learn to ride a motorcycle. He couldn’t wait to see what she’d do when he showed off the outlines of his tats.
Chapter Fifty-One
When Cam called her and then Digger texted her, Roxy knew she had to take action. Knox was on a suicide mission to learn how to ride a motorcycle. According to CamandDigger, he was doing it to win her back. Knox was a lot of things, but she’d never taken him for a brainless motherfucker. He couldn’t seem to understand, it was what was inside of him that mattered.
They walked back to her house in silence, although he kept his arm around her waist. Overcome with relief that he hadn’t broken his head, she didn’t move out of his embrace. Besides, his touch felt so good. She wanted to enjoy it while she could.
Inside, he closed and locked the door, turned and grabbed her wrists, pulling her close to him. He took possession of her mouth, consuming her, his taste and scent surrounding her. The rough, desperate kiss barely allowed her to catch her breath. She wanted to give in to him and her own need. Then, the harsh words he’d spoken to her pierced her thoughts, bursting her moment of weakness.
