Time Owed Read online

  "Hey, Merk?" called Desi.

  Bear chuckled. Merk glared, shutting down any bullshit comment from his MC brother.

  He stood. "Yeah?"

  "Can you go out and help hang the new Grand Opening sign at the corner on the light pole?" Desi raised her brows and simultaneously scrubbed the window.

  He handed Bear the screw gun. "You enjoy putting the tables together so much, you can finish mine."

  He walked outside and gazed both ways on the sidewalk. Jeremy stood at the corner of the street. A rolled fabric banner and a wooden flagpole lay at his feet. Fuck.

  Desi looked out the window at him, the picture of innocence. Merk's jaw tightened. Why was she trying to throw Jeremy in his path every time he turned around? The situation escalated when she asked Jeremy to work at the bar.

  He took two seconds to assess what he needed to do to get the job done. Secure the pole. Hang the banner. Job over.

  Merk walked over to Jeremy. The kid never glanced his way.

  He eyed the bracket in Jeremy's hand. "Does the town allow us to attach signs to the poles?"

  Jeremy shrugged. "Desiree said to put it up. I'm putting it up."

  "Let's make it quick." Merk reached for the drill at the same time Jeremy bent over and picked up the tool. He stood back. "Go ahead."

  Stretched to his full height of six foot, four inches, Jeremy pressed the bit against the metal pole. The drill slipped and he started over.

  Merk held back on taking over and doing the job himself.

  Trying again, Jeremy concentrated on holding the drill in position and put enough pressure against the smooth surface to ground the bit. An ache hit him square in the chest observing his nephew. While Jeremy focused, he stuck his tongue between his lips in concentration. The habit he'd often seen Roni do and would tease her about cutting off her tongue if she tried too hard.

  Jeremy's looks, actions, and expressions usually reminded him of Cam, but once in a while a piece of Roni showed up and validated the boy carried Merk's blood.

  Jeremy lowered his arm and cocked his head. "Does the bracket look straight?"

  "Yeah, it looks fine." Merk cleared his throat and picked up the banner, threading it over the pole. "Did you take the job Desi offered you?"

  "Yep." Jeremy held out his hand for the pole. "You have a problem with that?"

  Attitude. Like his father, Jeremy made no excuses and gave no explanation on why he'd made the decision to work for minimum wage when he raked in a couple grand every month through the club without moving a muscle.

  "You've got Tarmerk blood in those veins of yours that feeds off alcohol and drugs." Merk gazed at the banner flapping in the wind. "Serving drinks to other people puts you right in the middle of being tempted to—"

  "You don't think I don't know my mom was a user?" Jeremy snarled. "Dude, I lived with her even though I would've been better off in foster care."

  "Watch your mouth," muttered Merk. "She was your mom."

  "Right." Jeremy shook his head, wiping the disgust off his face. "I forget that you still want to play the role of big brother, except you were never around to be the man she needed to help her become stronger. Instead, she was stuck with me. If you're wondering, I tried to get her to stop shooting up. Nothing I tried worked."

  Merk dug his heel into the sidewalk. "It wasn't your job to take care of Roni. It was mine."

  Jeremy remained silent, standing in front of him. Merk blew out his breath. "I'm saying, I don't want you to fall into the habit of using alcohol to escape the life you were handed. You'll find yourself chasing your tail if you do. Between your mom and me, our parents, it'd be nice if you broke tradition and never struggled with a habit that'll claim your life if you let it."

  Jeremy's jaw worked over the unasked for advice. After several awkward moments, he said, "That's the first time you've mentioned we're related."

  Fucking kill him now. Merk's chest tightened. "Well, carrying the Tarmerk blood isn't something to brag about. You're better off not knowing me."

  "You were the first one who helped me adjust to the club before I found out Cam was my real dad and you were my uncle." Jeremy scoffed the statement away. "Don't think anything is going to change. I'm not asking you for anything. You want to ignore how we're related, that's fine with me. I'm used to going at it on my own."

  Merk reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his smokes. "You're better off staying away from me, Jeremy."

  "Why, huh? Because you're a felon?" Jeremy laughed bitterly. "You don't think I don’t know what happened yesterday? You killed two men to protect Desiree. I took a pledge to back whatever decision you made as an MC brother. Any kind of ties we have comes from wearing the patch, brother. It has nothing to do with my mom being your sister."

  "I'm trying to do right for you and staying out of your life is better for the both of us. As a Moroad, as your...as Roni's brother, I will do everything I can to keep you alive and out of prison." Merk inhaled a stream of nicotine and blew it out. "You've got your life ahead of you. Don't fuck it up the way the rest of us have."

  Jeremy shrugged. "That's your choice, man. Whether you try to fuck me up every time I turn around or tell me where I can and can't work, I'm going to do my own thing regardless of your opinion. I've always relied on myself. I won't stop now, because the past came out and you're reminded of someone else."

  "Jeremy..." Merk flicked the coal off his cigarette. "It goes beyond Moroad. You're family and I want the best for you. Your mom, well, she'd be proud of the man you've turned into."

  Jeremy gazed up at the banner, nodded in acknowledgement, and walked back inside the bar.

  Merk stared down at the sidewalk. There'd never be any heart to heart talk or bonding over stories of a contented life for him and Jeremy but somehow, he knew his sister would be proud to know Jeremy remained strong with a good head on his shoulders.

  He picked up the drill and walked toward the door. His neck warmed and he gazed up at the window. Desi stood behind the glass studying him. He lifted his chin. A hint of a smile hit her lips and she nodded. Somehow, she understood his need to tell Jeremy about his mom and made it happen.

  Maybe Jeremy working at the bar would turn out all right. A man his age could do with another good woman in his life before his position within the club hardened him.

  Maybe Jeremy would have a decent chance at finding freedom and not look back at his mistakes and failings, owing his life to a promise that came too late.

  He pushed through the door and took in the seven assembled tables built. Desi's laughter floated across the room. He picked up an empty cardboard box and watched Desi's face turn serious as she talked with Jacko.

  She glanced at Merk, and then spoke to Jacko. Merk ripped the cardboard in half, flattening the pieces and adding the smaller chunks to the pile.

  Jacko shook his head, waved his hands in an X in front of him, backing away. Desi frowned, glanced back at Merk, and inhaled deeply. Her chest rose and fell. His stomach tightened and stayed tight in response to the change in her.

  Jacko split away from her and Desi headed straight in his direction. He braced for whatever caused the change to come over her.

  Desi whispered, "What did you do for me?"

  "What did Jacko say?"

  "Answer my question first." She placed her hands on his stomach. "What did you do for me?"

  "Since I came back and claimed you...everything has been for you."

  "When were you going to tell me you dealt with Reds yesterday to stop them from threatening me?" She stared at him intently, waiting for him to fuck up.

  "Do you remember what happened last night?"

  She nodded. "You came back angry, and then—"

  "Right. We talked. We had sex. Great sex. That's all that should be going through your head. It was the same great sex we had this morning when you rolled over and touched me." He raised his brow. "We'll do the same thing tonight, and that's the only thing you should be thinking about."
/>   "Dammit, Merk." She leaned closer. "Don't act as if the only thing we have together is sex. You know that's not true."

  He kissed her forehead. "I know, but what I do to keep you safe is none of your business. What I do will never touch you. Now, if you're done with the questions, I'm going to go kick Jacko's ass for even bringing up the name Reds to you."

  "Wait." She held onto his vest. "He didn't mention anything about you. I told him until this business with Reds is over, I wanted Jacko to keep his eye on Jeremy while he works here on Wednesdays. That's when he said you were taking care of the problem and it dawned on me that's the business you were on yesterday."

  "Why would you worry about the kid?" Merk raised his gaze and searched the room for his nephew. Finding him behind the counter organizing mugs, Merk looked back down at Desi. "He's a Moroad. The colors protect him."

  Desi jerked back her head. "You believe that?"

  "Yeah." He kissed her hard.

  She pulled away. "You said I was property of Moroad. If that's the case, I'm in no danger."

  "It's different. You're a woman."

  Desi's gaze narrowed. "Oh, really?"

  "My woman." He lowered his voice. "Club or no club, I'll never let anyone hurt you. I'll do what I have to do to make sure you're beside me every night. If that means pissing you off to have you for one more day, then you're going to have to get over it."

  She clamped her lips shut and walked over to one of the new tables. He rocked back on his heels. What couldn't she understand?

  She was safe for today, and he'd continue to make sure she remained that way.

  Cam strode through the door, motioned for Merk, and headed back out. Merk followed, and Desi jumped in front of him, blocking his exit.

  She held his arms. "What's really going on?"

  "Not now, Desi." He spanned her waist with his hands and placed her to the side of him.

  Once out on the sidewalk, Desi caught up with him again. "Merk, talk to me."

  "Go back inside."

  "I thought you said everything is okay." She cocked her hip and challenged him

  "Jesus Christ," he mumbled. "You're safe. I need to talk with Cam about club business, so get your ass back inside."

  "No."

  Merk wasted no time. He leaned over, wrapped his arms around her thighs, and sent her sailing over his shoulder. Three steps into the building, he set her on her feet. "Don't fucking move."

  "Merk, I—"

  "Don't push me, Desi." Merk backed away and left the bar.

  Cam leaned against the building, smoking a cigarette, and grinned. "She's nothing like Christina."

  Cam obviously enjoyed the hell out of Merk's situation. Merk lit his own cigarette. "Nope."

  "Things working out now?" Cam gazed down the sidewalk.

  "Yeah." He walked over to the parked car at the curb and leaned against the door. "She's coming around."

  Cam nodded in reply and said, "Martin made contact and expressed his anger over finding two of his men dead. Did you know Diego was his brother in law?"

  "I heard the rumor while serving time." Merk pinched his smoke between thumb and finger and held it in front of his mouth. "I believe in hitting a target low and hard. I'll hunt down the rest of his family and do the same thing if Martin tries to come anywhere near Desi."

  "You might have to do exactly that." Cam flicked his smoke to the curb. "Martin's waging a personal vendetta against you, not Moroad. He's retaliating, because you touched his family. He claims you hurt his sister when you took her man away from her."

  "What about the agreement with Moroad that all the gangs have with us?" Merk tensed, knowing if the extortion fell apart, they'd have a war on their hands and no money to support the prisoners.

  "It stands," said Cam.

  "Good." Merk went through his options. Whatever Martin planned, he wanted trouble far from Desi. "Is there any way I can get in a visit at the prison?"

  "Depends."

  Merk stepped forward. "I can stop Martin, but I need to make contact with one of our men on the inside."

  "Who?"

  "Ring," said Merk.

  Cam inhaled deeply, exhaled loudly. "Be ready to ride in two days."

  Merk nodded and shook Cam's hand. "Thanks, man."

  He stood out on the sidewalk alone for a few minutes, running his plan through his head. Ring would follow his instructions without question, and he trusted him to follow through. To win and keep himself alive and Desi safe, he needed to take out the threat. The fastest way to do that would be to get one of Red's members to rat him out.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Merk manhandled Desiree away from the front of Cam's house to the side yard. Out of view of everyone, warm pleasure flooded her body. She laughed, muffling the sound against the front of Merk's shirt.

  The rough wooden surface of the house scratched her back. She squealed, flinging her weight toward Merk. "We need to stop before someone finds us."

  Merk's hands moved from her ass to her back, rubbing sensual circles on her abused skin. She sighed. Maybe they could hide away from everyone for the rest of the night and keep playing.

  She'd touch him

  He'd touch her.

  Back and forth. An erotic game of push and pull see who would go the furthest without stopping.

  The odds were in her favor. Nothing stopped Merk from going after what he wanted. She'd gambled with her heart and in the end, she'd won Merk.

  "If you want to stop, you need to take your hand off my dick." Merk chuckled. "Or you can keep stroking me. The meeting doesn't start for five minutes."

  She groaned. "No, we need to stop. I'm hot."

  "No, you're flustered." He smiled softly at her. "I like the look."

  She shook her head. "Stop being nice."

  His smile slipped away and he adjusted his crotch and shook his leg. Confused, she snaked her arms around his waist. "What are you thinking?"

  He placed his hand between her breasts. "There's nothing nice about me, and yet I got the nicest woman I've ever known. I came to you with a different plan, Desi."

  "You wanted to hurt me?"

  "No, I had to hurt you." He gave her a heavy sigh.

  He'd started communicating better with her, but he still kept his feelings about her to himself. Too curious to stop, she continued. "But, you don't want to anymore?"

  Something about the way he refused to look at her made her question his motives again. She pressed her hand over his. "Merk? Is there something you're not telling me?"

  "I go over and over that night in the basement when you picked up my hand." He swallowed and his hand hardened underneath hers. "What I can't understand is why you trusted me."

  Her heart raced remembering. For years, she'd thought she'd imagined Merk there, saving her from the bad men, from her dad. She still couldn't remember what it was that made her break Pop's rules about staying away from her dad and venturing downstairs by herself.

  "It's impossible for me to answer that question." She ran her finger under his eyes and sighed. "It was in the eyes. Something about the way you looked at me told me to trust you. You made me feel important and special, even more important than your own safety, which was at risk."

  He nodded. "Desi, I—"

  He placed her finger over his lips. "I blamed my fascination with you on immaturity, fantasizing, and loneliness, except you returned and I'm feeling the same things I did back then, except everything means more." She cupped his face with her hand. "I think I fell in love with you when I was thirteen years old, despite what happened, because when I looked in your eyes everything else seemed to disappear. You showed me kindness, gave me security, and protected me. I can't think of anything more important that a little girl would want. You gave me a taste of what I could have in my life and I've judged every man based on those feelings. No one compared, and so I waited for you to return, knowing it would never happen."

  "I came back," he whispered.

  She swal
lowed the heavy emotions settling in her throat. "And, I'm even deeper in love with you than I was at thirteen years old. I might be crazy, but I am."

  He removed his hand and hooked her neck, kissing her softly. Against her lips, he said, "You're not crazy."

  She calmed and kissed him hard. He always validated her feelings, but had yet to commit to his own.

  "Meeting," a male voice shouted.

  Merk pulled his head back. "Damn."

  "It's okay. Go do your business and I'll go up on the patio and see what the women are doing." She held his hand until he needed to join the other men at the fire.

  Katie waved and motioned for her to sit with her. She hopped up onto the porch, hugged Katie, and said hello to Lola, Tiff, Christina, Jessie, and Tina.

  "How's the remodeling going at the bar?" Jessie held her arms above her head, braiding her straight, red hair. Wasn't she a blonde last week?

  "Great." Desiree sat down on the bench. "The grand opening is Saturday."

  "Wow, already?" Lola smoothed lotion over her bare arms. "Jeremy mentioned you had a plan to offer specials and bring some excitement in. What's your stance on having the Moroad women stop in once in a while?"

  "Stance?" She glanced around at the others. "I don't have one. You can come in whenever you want. I live there. If the bars locked up, there's a doorbell at the back door or call ahead of time if it's outside of business hours and I'll let you in."

  Jessie tied off her braid and lowered her arms. "She's one of us. Of course she's not going to ban us from the bar."

  Tina straightened her bra strap under her tank. "Do you know how long it's been since we could all go out to lunch or have a drink on our day off from Silver Girls? Plus, Merk will be around to keep things kosher, so we can relax and enjoy ourselves."

  "Wait." Desiree held up her hand. "There are bars in town who don't allow you to come in?"

  "They allow it." Lola rolled her eyes. "But when they claim to have run out of drinks, and yet every man in the room is still getting served, nobody has to tell us twice when we're not wanted. Plus, it's no fun to go out when the men in town believe they can harass us and try to get us to dance and perform for them outside of Silver Girls. We've learned to stay away from them. It's easier that way."