by Blair Grey
I’d seen alcoholics in my time. Even ones who I considered working alcoholics – people who managed to take care of their jobs, bills, and day to day business. Nicki wasn’t either thing.
She was hurt. She was angry. She was self-destructive. But she hadn’t reached the point of being so self-destructive that she’d turned to alcohol or drugs to end her life.
Like most people, she drank to forget. That’s not an alcoholic, that’s someone who is having trouble dealing with their past. Once you deal with your past, then your future doesn’t look nearly as bleak.
Even if I hadn’t learned that lesson myself, I was ready to try to learn it. Who knew? Maybe together, she and I could learn lots of things.
I was certain that once Dean Strong was dealt with, things would all be downhill from there for the young woman. Sure, it wouldn’t be all roses, but life isn’t ever all good.
Into each life, a little rain must fall. And in some people’s lives, torrential flooding happened from time to time. But that was okay. What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. And I knew that for sure.
Just as I knew Nicki needed my help, I knew that I needed help to help her. So, once the sun had risen and the hour wasn’t so early, I called Lyle. “It’s awful early. Whatchya got, kid?”
“I’ve got a little hiccup in the plan to take out Dean Strong, boss.” I had to swallow my pride to ask for his help as I’d thought I could handle it all on my own. “See, there’s someone else who I think might be considering taking him out. And if she does, then I lose my fast-track to getting patched with the Iron Cobras. And – well, I can’t have that, now can I?”
“You most certainly cannot,” he agreed. “Is this someone that woman who called me last night off your phone?”
“It is.” I hoped he had some ideas for me. “And he’s gone pretty far to get her to Baltimore. Plus, he may be trying to use the Iron Cobras to take her out. I don’t think you guys want anyone using you, do you?”
“Not a chance in hell.” I heard him moving around. “Get down to the club so we can talk to the rest of the council about what you have to say. If this fucker thinks he’s going to use us at all, he’s got another think coming.”
“I thought so.” I headed to the bathroom to get a quick shower before going down to their bar. “See you soon.”
As I pulled my jeans off, I could smell Nicki’s scent on my skin, and it made my cock hard. No one had ever affected me the way she had.
People said that you know when you’d found the one for you. It didn’t take much time to figure that out at all. I wasn’t a thousand percent sure at that time if Nicki was it for me or not. But I knew there was potential there. Lots of potential.
After a quick shower, I put my clothes on, then headed out. Just as I stepped outside, seeing that I’d left my Harley parked at the curb, I wanted to kick my own ass for leaving her outside instead of parking her in the garage.
“Garrett Robertson,” I heard a man say as he came up from behind me. “We need to talk.”
Closing my eyes, I didn’t need an introduction. “Dean Strong.” I turned to face the man I had to kill. Keeping my temper in check, I bit the inside of my cheek.
“So, you’ve met Nicole Johansson. And I’m sure she’s spun quite a web for you.” He smiled as if what he had to say would make my day. “See, she’s a bit of a black widow, that girl. Did she tell you about that? Did she tell you how three men have gone missing in the last three years? Men she’d been in relationships with? Hmm?”
Although I knew he was lying, I wasn’t going to throw that out there. “She hasn’t said a thing about anyone but you. She told me how you raped her three years ago and got a slap on the wrist from the DEA over it. And she’s told me how you’ve been harassing her while she’s here for a case. But nothing about missing men, I’m afraid.”
“Yeah, well she likes to put her own unique spin on things. If I were a rapist, would I really still be working for the DEA? Think about it. Would you like to hear about these men?” He pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Their names and pictures are right here. You can look them all up. And the only thing you will find that they have in common is Nicole Johansson. Oh, and they’re all missing. I guess that makes two things, doesn’t it?”
Taking the paper, I folded it then stuck it into my pocket. “Well, she wants nothing to do with me. So, I guess I’m not on her hit list.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. She plays this little game with men. She entices them, then pulls away. Or rather pushes the man away. I’m not quite sure which it is. It’s an odd dance. She needs you desperately one moment. You know – for sex. Then she’s up and out and done with you. It’s usually that she’s just not good enough for you. Or it may be that she’s a loner. And sometimes it’s that she wasn’t as into you as you thought she was and what you did together wasn’t consensual”
It was obvious what he was doing. But I didn’t think it to be smart to let him know that I knew what he was up to. “I’m done with her crazy ass anyway. I don’t have time for shit like that.”
“That’s good to hear. But I don’t think you clearly understand what I’m saying. You’re in danger.” He just wasn’t going to give up. “I’m here to offer you protection.”
“Yeah, that’s nice and all, but I don’t need any.” As I turned to walk away, I got the feeling he wasn’t going to let me go with ease and decided to turn back around. And that’s when I saw him walking away. “I’ll check out these men you’re talking about.”
“You should. I’m not lying to you.” He stopped and looked back at me. “One of them is my uncle. She knew that too. But she hasn’t said a word to me about him or her having anything to do with him. Weird, don’t you think?”
I thought he was weird. “Like I said, I’ll check them out.”
“Like I said - you’re in danger. Watch your back, Garrett. Maybe your friends in the Iron Cobras should be made aware of this. They might be in danger as well.”
It didn’t surprise me even a little that he knew about my dealings with the MC. “I will be sure to let them know. I don’t keep anything away from my employers.”
What the fuck are you up to now, Dean Strong?
Chapter Sixteen
Nicki
Waking up the next morning with Vodka on my breath, I stumbled to the bathroom to brush my teeth. My shirt, ripped, I had on panties and nothing else.
What the fuck did I do?
My head throbbed as I pulled off what remained of my clothes. This wasn’t the first time I’d woken up this way. I hadn’t gone to see anyone about it, but I’d done my research online and thought I might be having a problem with a split personality.
So far though I didn’t have any concrete evidence of having anything more than a drinking problem. For all I knew, I’d done this to myself. In the times before, there had never been any evidence of anyone else being around. And it had always happened in my own place.
As I showered, I prayed the thick feeling in my head would go away soon. I had to deal with Dean and the hangover wasn’t going to make that easy to do.
Using only cold water, I showered until I felt the fog in my head clear at least a little. Some coffee would help even more. It wasn’t my intention to let days go by without doing anything. That had happened to me before. The fog in my head had lasted for days at times.
A few times it had made for some controversy. I didn’t need that. Not with Garrett and I having spent most of the night before together.
Feeling the slightest bit more coherent, I slipped on a t-shirt and nothing else then went to make a pot of strong coffee. In the tiny kitchen, I found my credit card on the counter and an empty pint of vodka in the trash can.
I guess I ordered that after Garrett, and I got off the phone.
Seemed I’d drank it all too. But I had no recollection about it at all. The last thing I remembered was crying myself to sleep on the sofa after blocking Garrett’s number.
I woke up in my bed though.
I hated my addiction. Or personality disorder. I wasn’t sure which I had, but I had something.
As I waited for the coffee, I leaned against the counter, rubbing my temples. This hadn’t started happening until after the rape. Maybe too much had piled up on me at that time and my mind had bent too far.
I needed help. I had to stop putting it off. One day, someone might get hurt. After all, I had no idea what I’d done during these blackouts and no idea who I’d been with. Or if I’d been with anyone at all.
A knock at my door had my head pounding with the sound. “Hold on.”
I hadn’t gotten dressed completely yet and I wasn’t about to answer the door in what I’d put on. Going to the dresser, I pulled out some panties and a pair of shorts and put them on. I didn’t have the ability to do more than that.
It was going to be one of two people, Dean or Garrett. What did it matter what I looked like for either of them?
Opening the door, I found a woman standing there. “Um, can I help…”
Smack!
Shocked, I put my hand to my cheek. As my body trembled with fury, I couldn’t help but notice how her body shook, her face was bright red, and she was so mad that she stammered, “How – could - you?”
With no idea who she was or what I could’ve done, I asked, “Do I know you?”
“No. But you damn well know my husband, you whore!” She reared back to slap me again.
Not about to take another hit, I grabbed her by the wrist before she could connect with my face. “I think you’ve mixed me up with someone else. But just to be sure, what’s your husband’s name?”
“Garrett Robertson.” She slid her hands over her shirt, showing that she had a round belly. “We’re pregnant. He and I had an argument. He left for a few days to let things cool off. And when I went to tell him that I was sorry, I saw you leaving his place. Well, the place he had before he and I got married. He’s kept it. And now I know why. To fuck little whores like you!” Bursting into tears, she sagged against the doorframe. “How could he do this to us?”
“Look, I have no idea what’s going on here. He and I aren’t a thing. We didn’t have sex. I swear to you that we didn’t.”
Tears ran in rivers down her cheeks. “You did too! Don’t even try to lie to me. He came over here. I followed him. He came here and he didn’t leave until just before daylight this morning. I sat in my car and kept watch.”
If that’s true, then why’d she wait so long to confront me?
“That was hours ago.” I couldn’t stand there any longer as my head was spinning. “Would you like to come in? I’ve got to get some coffee.” Walking away, I didn’t care if she came in or not. I had to get some caffeine into my system.
I heard her close the door as I grabbed a cup from the overhead cabinet. “He doesn’t know that I know. I’d rather keep it that way. If we can handle this, woman to woman, I’d like that. I’m sure he didn’t tell you that he’s married and has a baby on the way.”
“You’re right. He didn’t.” I filled the cup with black coffee then took a sip, even though it burned my lips and tongue, I didn’t care. “And I don’t remember him coming over here. I’m sorry. I don’t remember much at all.”
Fucking vodka!
Her hands shook as she ran them over her face. “Please, just tell me if he used a condom or not.”
“I didn’t see anything like that lying around.” I took another sip, praying for my mind to return to normal.
“God!” She started sobbing. “Are you on birth control?”
“No.” Another sip of searing hot liquid and still no closer to being clearheaded. “I don’t think we had sex.” I hadn’t felt anything sticky between my legs when I’d woken up. And I wasn’t stiff from having sex. It had been years, so I was sure I would have some type of soreness if I’d had even a little sex with a man with a small cock. Which Garrett did not have.
I recalled that much from making out with him. He was well-endowed. I would’ve definitely been walking stupid had he been in my intimate domain only a few hours before.
“I know that you did. I just know it!” She sucked in her breath then wailed at the top of her lungs.
“Look, lady,” I felt bad about what Garrett had done to her. But that was him – not me. So, why was she bothering me? “I’m Nicki. And your name is?” I felt like we needed to go back and start over.
“Mrs. Robertson,” she cried out. “He calls me that and I call him, Mr. Robertson. It’s what we’ve called each other since we got married a year ago.”
He told me he hates being called Mr. Robertson because of what his father did to him.
“Well, Mrs. Robertson, I’m really sorry for what you’re going through, but I don’t have anything to do with this. And I’m nursing a pretty bad hangover, so if you could take that crying elsewhere, preferably to your husband, that would be great.”
Too many things weren’t adding up. Garrett hadn’t had sex with me, even when I was up for it. So why would he take advantage of me while I was drunk?
Plus, he had no white mark around his ring finger where he’d taken off a wedding band. And his place looked lived in. I just wasn’t sure about what the woman was saying.
“You would love that, wouldn’t you?” she asked as she sniffled.
Grabbing some paper towels, I walked over and handed them to her. “Yes, I would adore it if you would leave.”
She shook her head as she took the towels then blew her nose. “I meant that you would love it if I went to my husband and accused him of adultery. And then he might leave me for good for the accusation. And then he might sue me for custody of our baby. And he might get it too. And then my little girl would grow up with only half a mother.” She stopped talking and glared at me. “Or are you thinking that he would marry you and make you our little girl’s mother? That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“Not even a little.” I’d had enough of her and looked up at the camera Dean had hidden over the door. “But I know where I can get evidence that I was not with your husband last night. At least not here. I’m not going to lie to you and say that I wasn’t with him at his place. But we did not have sex there. We made out like a couple of teenagers, but there was nothing below the belt. I swear that to you.”
“He’s not at his place for me to go talk to him anyway,” she said with a huff. “After he left here, he went somewhere else. He met with another man. A really tall guy who was wearing a fake black mustache that was way darker than the hair on his head. He went inside the man’s apartment and I haven’t seen him since.” She glared at me again. “I went to the door and knocked and knocked but no one answered. Any idea why I would see my husband go into that man’s home and not come out again?”
“No.” I didn’t want to believe her.
If Garret went to confront Dean, then there’s a good chance one or both of them are dead right now.
If Garrett had killed Dean, he’d be waiting for the Iron Cobras to go clean things up. If Dean had killed Garrett, he’d be waiting for the DEA to clean things up. If they killed each other, it was just a matter of time before someone found them.
“Get dressed better than that,” she barked at me. “I’m taking you over there. You’re going to get inside and you’re going to find out where my husband is. This is all your fault. I know it is.”
I wasn’t so sure she was wrong. But that was only if she was telling me the truth. “Okay.” I headed toward the bathroom, knowing I’d left my cell phone in there. Stopping, I turned to ask, “Garrett doesn’t wear a wedding band.” I looked at her left hand and found it had no ring either. “And you don’t either. Wanna tell me why that is?”
“He couldn’t afford one when we got married.”
I found that hard to believe. But it wasn’t impossible. He had money now though. I’d seen him throwing hundreds around fairly easily. “What about now? Does he have the money to buy wedding rings
now?”
“Yes. But my fingers are swelling because of the pregnancy. We’re going to renew our vows after the baby comes and exchange rings then. As if that’s any of your business, homewrecker.”
“First, let’s get this straight. I am not a homewrecker.” I wasn’t going to be called anything like that.
“He’s not the first man you’ve done this to, Nicole Johansson.” A smirk formed on her thin lips. Lips that didn’t look like Garrett would want to kiss them at all. Her mousy brown hair was slightly greasy, and her dull green eyes had no spark to them at all. She didn’t look like his type to me.
“And when did you find out my whole name?”
With a clever expression, she let me know, “I asked the lady who owns this building and she told me. So, I looked you up on the internet and found that you’ve got a trail of men who’ve gone missing. Two of them were married.”
Here we go again.
I’d never had much to do with the men who’d gone missing. And I’d been investigated thoroughly with each disappearance. “I didn’t have sex with any of those men. I’d had a date with one. I’d met another in the grocery store, and we’d had coffee afterward. The other guy and I met in a bar and danced a few songs together. And that is it. I didn’t break up any marriages and I didn’t have a thing to do with any of those men disappearing. The one thing I can say about all three of them that I can’t say about Garrett is that they were all pretty unhappy individuals.”
“You’re right, my husband isn’t unhappy. But he is confused right now about where his loyalties lie - me or that stupid MC he’s been prospecting.”
I’d heard enough out of the woman. Turning away, I went to change and make a phone call to Garrett to see what the fuck this was all about. “I’ll be ready to go in just a bit.”
Closing the door behind me, once I’d gotten into the privacy of the bathroom, I picked up my cell and saw text messages from a number I didn’t have on my contacts list.