Vendetta Road

by Christine Feehan

  “Yeah, babe, I know Lana. Let’s get you a drink and we’re going to talk about whoever put those bruises on your face.”

  He didn’t mean to sound like a hard-ass, but there was frost in his voice. A promise of retaliation. Ice didn’t have a lot of social graces, but he forced himself not to pull her close when she hesitated again and looked at the door. Clearly, self-preservation had set in and she wanted to run, but she thought whoever was chasing her was worse than what she faced in the bar. That didn’t make sense to him. The suit couldn’t possibly be as scary as a bar full of bikers.

  “I’ve probably already had too much to drink,” she hedged and tried to step back.

  He had his brothers there, and because he was acting out of character, they had already backed his play. Maestro stood behind her, and she bumped into him and whirled around. Maestro had his back to her and was talking to Code. He glanced over his shoulder, murmured an apology, and turned back, but stayed firmly between her and the door.

  “What’s your name?” Ice said, trying to sound friendlier. She looked like she was close to panic. “Lana isn’t here, but we’re her family. And my sister, Alena, is here and she’s as close to Lana as anyone could be. She’ll know what to tell you.” Deliberately he used Lana’s name and the fact that he had a sister in the bar to soothe her.

  She bit her lip. “I’m Soleil.”

  She pronounced her name with a slight French accent and it sounded like so-lay. He liked it. He’d always liked the French language, it sounded exotic and sexy to him. Now he knew why. Soleil. Sunshine. Yeah. He could see that.

  He tried another gentle experimental tug. “Let’s get a drink and find Alena.”

  She did the lip thing again and his cock jerked hard. If she didn’t stop he might embarrass himself. He changed tactics, taking charge. Circling her back so his arm was an iron bar, he guided her toward the bar. The crowd was tight, and he had to thread his way through, but again, his brothers helped him out, moving in a diamond pattern so they could part the crowd for him.

  “Yo, Ice, you gonna share that sweet little piece of ass?” someone called out.

  Soleil stiffened. Ice pulled her closer to him. “Fuck you, Sanders, I don’t share my woman. Anyone goes near her, they’ll be spending some time in the hospital.” He put menace in his voice, enough to quiet the room a second time.

  Everyone turned away from them. Ice’s reputation was lethal, something he wasn’t eager for her to know.

  He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “In here, you have to belong to someone or it can get ugly. You’ll be fine. No one would dare touch you now. My brothers and I will look after you. I give you my word. You’re totally safe with me.” He wasn’t lying.

  She was already in the middle of the room. She glanced over her shoulder, looking toward the door, even as he propelled her toward the bar. There was a sea of men and women between her and escape.

  He kept his arm firmly around her. “You’re safe. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Lana is a very good friend of mine, and because she’s your friend as well, Torpedo Ink will look after you.”

  Lana’s name was like magic. Ice was very aware Soleil had been crying and whoever had hit her face had struck her elsewhere as well. She walked carefully, as if protecting her body. “You need a doc? Steele’s on his honeymoon about now, but we can get you to the emergency room or have Alena take a look at you.”

  She shook her head. “No. I can’t go to the emergency room.”

  Definitely panic in her voice. He wanted to kill the bastard who’d struck her. Savage leaned against the bar right over two barstools. Savage was a man no one in their right mind ever called out. No one. Not even some drunk with an entire club behind them. He’d lay waste to most of them, and those he left alive, the rest of his brothers would send to hell.

  A few times already, because Savage didn’t say much, a couple of young drunks who didn’t know his reputation yet and were well past self-preservation thought they could make a name for themselves. Before they got a word out, friends of the two apologized to Savage and dragged them off.

  Savage straightened like a lazy panther, his cool blue eyes raking the bar as he turned toward Ice. “This your woman, Ice?”

  “She’s mine,” Ice confirmed. “Name’s Soleil.”

  Savage looked her over. She moved closer to Ice and he tightened his hold even more, tucking her under his shoulder protectively. He wanted to grin at Savage. The man knew how to intimidate.

  “What the fuck happened to her?” Savage demanded.

  “Some asshole hit her,” Ice said. He tipped her face up to him, using his thumb and finger. “That suit I saw you with on the street. He do this to you?” His thumb slid gently over the bruises.

  Soleil looked mesmerized by him. He couldn’t help himself, he very gently brushed kisses over the bruises.

  “You want us to take him out for you?”

  Her long, thick lashes fluttered, drawing his attention. Ice wanted to kiss them as well.

  “You mean like, kill him?” Her voice was very soft. No more than a whisper, but Savage heard her, and he shot Ice a quick glance. If he was amused by her innocent question, it didn’t show, but Ice knew him well enough to know he thought Soleil’s lack of street smarts was funny.

  “Yeah, baby, like kill him. I don’t much like that he put his hands on you. Who the hell is he?” They’d find the bastard and end his days of hitting women. He’d suffer before he died if Savage or Ice got to him first.

  “He was my fiancé,” she admitted. “He wanted to get married here and I said no way. He wouldn’t sign a prenup. Everyone has them these days, right?”

  Ice helped her onto the stool and glanced at the bartender to make certain he was paying attention. Keeping a hand on her shoulder, he slid onto the bar stool beside her. Savage stayed at her back and Maestro took the bar stool next to Ice.

  “You were going to marry that asshole?” Ice persisted.

  “No. He sort of railroaded me. I was in a bad place, and the next thing I knew, he was there running everything. I’m not even sure how it happened. Thank God I woke up.” She took the glass the bartender pushed into her hand and started fishing around for her money.

  “I’ve got this,” Ice said. “He’ll put it on my tab. You were saying this asshole tried to force you to marry him?” He leaned in close and soothingly rubbed along her arm. She wore a short denim jacket, but she would feel his touch beneath the material.

  She looked surprised that he was paying. Clearly, she was used to being the one to pay. The suit really was a first-class asshole. Or a con artist maybe, looking for a sugar mama. Soleil seemed too young for that.

  “Thank you, Ice. That is very sweet of you.”

  He was pleased she actually remembered his name. The bar was loud, and she had just walked in alone and afraid. He smiled at her. “Tell me about the suit.” Behind his back he signaled to his twin brother, showing his phone and mouthing “Lana.” He needed Lana on his side, and she wasn’t going to like what Storm was going to tell her.

  Soleil took a slow sip of the whiskey and then looked at the glass. “I love the way this burns all the way down.” She wasn’t slurring her words, but she’d had more than one drink before she’d gotten there. That much was obvious.

  Ice nodded his agreement. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” She was still looking very nervous and he was afraid if it wasn’t for Savage standing right behind her, she might have tried bolting. He was a little out of his depth. He didn’t want to sound like her asshole for-sure-to-be-ex-fiancé. He didn’t know how to talk to “nice” girls. He tended to just issue orders. Most revolved around sucking his cock. Shit.

  He needed to keep this woman with him. He didn’t even know why the compulsion was so strong, but that need was relentless, bone deep. Soul deep. He swore under his breath and tried to find the w
ords that would put her at ease.

  “It’s loud in here, but it will clear out in an hour or two. In the meantime, you think it would be a good thing to give Lana a call, so she can vouch for me? I don’t want you nervous. You really are safe with me.”

  Immediately she put down the glass and all but sighed with relief. “I doubt if I could hear her, but maybe if I text her?”

  “Good idea.” He glanced back again and saw Storm on his cell talking fast and knew he was filling Lana in. Storm already knew this was the woman who had caused Ice to nearly blow their cover on the street earlier. She wasn’t just anyone. Ice wanted her. For whatever reason, he might even need her. Storm would walk through hell to give Ice whatever he asked for—because he’d never asked for anything. His brothers and sisters in Torpedo Ink would do the same.

  Ice’s body felt cold with nerves. He’d faced guns, knives, all kinds of fights, and he’d done so without flinching. This was different. This was important, and he had absolutely no guidelines. None. He swallowed the whiskey down, feeling the burn. Needing it. How the hell was he going to get her home, where he had a chance of keeping her?

  “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about this prenup thing. You’re right, everyone has them. He was a fool to give you up over that. I would have signed it without even looking at it in order to have you.” Deliberately he brought it up again, needing her to want to stay with him in the crowded bar. He needed time. A little time.

  “You would?” Her face brightened, and she leaned into him. Just a little, but it was enough to tell Ice he was on the right track.

  “In a heartbeat, princess. Any man worth anything would sign one.”

  “He thought he was still going to get me,” she said. “And when he realized I meant what I said, he—” She broke off. Her voice trembled. Her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her mouth.

  Ice moved closer to her and rubbed her back soothingly. “You’re safe here with us. Text Lana, she’ll tell you this is the right place. No one can harm you as long as you’re with us.” He glanced up as his brothers came back through the door. All three shook their heads. They hadn’t found any evidence of anyone chasing her.

  He nodded to them and they moved in closer to protect his woman. She looked so completely out of place there, but now they had her surrounded. Alena would escort her to the women’s room anytime she wanted to go. Some of the women in the bar weren’t looking at her too fondly. He didn’t give a shit, as long as she was sitting next to him.

  Soleil took out her phone. Ice noted her hand was still shaking. He wanted to cover it, to soothe her, but she wasn’t quite yet certain she was out of danger from him. Not even with the liquor. Unashamedly, Ice looked over her shoulder as she typed in her message to Lana.

  Came to bar looking for you. Found Ice and others. It was bad. Worse than either of us thought.

  What the fuck did that mean? He couldn’t just ask her. He waited impatiently for Lana’s reply. He knew she’d back him, but to have actually spoken to Soleil, given her contact information when they had just run a huge mission, meant she might know more about her situation. They’d separated, changed, made certain there wasn’t so much as a speck of blood on any of them and then gotten back together, everyone wearing their colors, celebrating Steele’s marriage to Breezy.

  Ice will keep you safe. Don’t go back to the hotel. Stay with him. He absolutely won’t let anything happen to you. If you come with him, I’ll see you soon.

  Ice could have kissed Lana. That was put in there so subtly. Stay with Ice. He’d keep her safe. See you soon. Perfection. The seeds were planted. His girl was that scared, and she needed friends. She needed to feel safe after the suit had gotten rough. He watched her carefully text Lana back.

  Thank you.

  “Here’s what we’re going to do, Soleil,” he said, taking charge, because she might as well know his true nature. “We’re forgetting that asshole. He’s not coming in here. Even if he did, he can’t touch you, there’s too many of us. We’re going to spend the rest of the evening having fun. We’ll dance a little. Play some darts. Some pool. Drink a little. We’re ignoring the rest of the world just for tonight. How does that sound? You with me, girl?”

  She leaned her chin onto the heel of her hand and looked into his eyes. He was usually the one mesmerizing others with his glacier-blue crystalline eyes, but she turned the tables on him. He was sliding far past want straight to need.

  “I think you’re making astonishing sense. Absolute sense. I’m with you one hundred percent.”

  Still no slurred words, but his girl was feeling the effects. “You hungry?”

  “I could eat something, but honestly, I don’t want to leave yet.” She glanced over her shoulder and a little shiver went through her body.

  “He’ll give up looking.”

  She shook her head and her eyes darted a second time toward the door. “He won’t.” Her voice dropped low.

  If he hadn’t been bending his head very close to her mouth, close enough to feel her lips whisper over his ear, he wouldn’t have heard her.

  “He has a plan.”

  The way she said it alarmed him. “What kind of plan?”

  She shook her head and straightened, once more lifting her glass to her lips. That told him two things. She was in more trouble than he’d first realized. A fiancé who was willing to beat her was one thing to contend with, but her fear and those four little words said something else, something much more sinister. And his girl had a stubborn streak.

  “If you’re hungry, we can get you some food. What are you hungry for?”

  She flashed him a smile that made his cock come to attention all over again. The woman was beyond his wildest dreams. Nothing made his cock hard unless he ordered it to get hard. She managed effortlessly. She didn’t even have a fucking clue what she was doing. Her tits rose and fell with her breath. Pushed against the tight bodice of her sundress. Strained for release. He wanted to pull her into his lap and fill his hands with those soft curves.

  “Stop looking like you’re the Big Bad Wolf and you’re going to eat her alive,” Alena said, leaning into him from the other side. She wedged herself in between him and Maestro. “Hi,” she added, leaning farther onto the bar so she could see around him. “I’m Alena.”

  “Soleil.”

  His girl smiled at his sister. He was a little leery of what Alena might do or say. She could be charming, just as Storm could. Somehow, Ice had missed out, but his twin and his sister could charm the birds out of the trees when they wanted.

  Storm was staying in the background. They had a pact. If one of them met the “one,” the other would fade until she was hooked. Ice thought Storm wasn’t quite as fucked up as he was, so he didn’t want to take the chance that his girl did it for his brother or she found out there was a nicer twin.

  “I heard Ice say something about food. Pizza sound good to you? We could take over the game room, eat pizza, challenge Ice to darts or pool . . .”

  “You’re not going to hustle my girl, Alena,” Ice said.

  Soleil laughed. “Has it occurred to you that I might be fairly good at pool? Or darts?”

  “Fairly good doesn’t cut it around Alena,” Ice said. He pulled out his phone and group-texted the others, setting up for pizza orders, and one by one, they headed toward the game room. A few of them going in wouldn’t move many of the other clubs out, but all of them together usually sent the players scurrying. “Alena is a genuine hustler. She looks all cute and cuddly and then she takes everyone’s money.”

  “Sounds to me like you lost a bit of money to her,” Soleil said, her long lashes sweeping down.

  That got him right in the gut. Or cock. Or both. His chest was so fucking tight he could barely breathe. He wanted to tell his sister to go easy. Not eat his little sunshine girl alive. Alena could. She might.

  Ice
rubbed his chest right over his heart. Soleil’s perfect brows came down in an adorable frown. He hoped he hadn’t said that word aloud. Adorable. He’d have to shoot someone if he had. He’d never hear the end of it.

  “Are you all right?”

  The soft concern in her voice played over his skin like the touch of fingers. Intimate. Anxious. Shit. Alena had noticed as well.

  “I’m good. Just hungry.”

  Both women looked skeptical. He raised his hand for another round, and when the bartender delivered, he picked up both glasses and waited for his girl to slide off the barstool. Her cute little boot things hit the bar floor, and she swayed to the music for a moment before following Alena. He brought up the rear. Close. So there were no mistakes by anyone. She wasn’t going to get accidentally touched. Or hit on. Or worse. Some drunken biker tried anything, Ice knew he would turn murderous instantly.

  Savage moved with him on his left. Player was on his right. Both were a short distance away, just enough to fight if necessary. The rest of the club had gone inside the game room, one by one, getting the other clubs to drift on out.

  “Pizza’s ordered,” Code called out. He was first at the dartboard.

  Alena bumped her hip against Absinthe and took the darts out of his hand. “Ice thinks he can beat me. Want to put money up he can’t?”

  “No,” Soleil corrected, shocking him. “I implied I could beat you. Ice had no belief in me.”

  Code spun around. “You sure you want to take on the champ, honey? She’s never lost.”

  “I’ve lost,” Alena contradicted immediately. “More than once. Just rarely, and never to an out—” She broke off, looking at her brother.

  “A what?” Soleil prompted. “And how much money are we betting?”

  Ice groaned, put down the drinks and circled his arm around her waist, pulling her back into him. Before she could stiffen, or protest, he put his lips against her ear. “Seriously, princess, Alena is amazing at darts. And pool. Don’t play her at pool.”