“There you are.”
Shit.
Dirty Tony. He’s been decent to me, but he’s also a greedy bastard who takes more than a fair cut off our side gigs. The hard expression on his face not only serves to intimidate me but it highlights the nasty scar that runs through his left eyebrow. I’m not sure how he came by the ugly mark. I do know whatever it was wasn’t anything good. Not with the company he keeps. He got Crystal and I to do a private party for one of his friends. They didn’t tip and at the end of the night the fucker gave us thirty bucks each and said thanks for the favor. Thirty fucking dollars for two hours of his nasty ass cheapskate buddies groping my ass.
“Hey. Do you happen to know who has my keys?”
“I’ve got’em.”
“Great.” I hold my palm out.
“Heard you and Crystal got into a situation.”
Ugh. Of course he knows. He always seems to know every move we make. He reminds of a goon in an old mafia movie.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can I just have my keys? Please.”
“You two hadn’t gone behind my back she might not be out of a job.”
“I really don’t have time for this right now. I’m running late. I really need my keys.”
He flips the toothpick he’s biting on between his teeth. “Missed out on my cut too.”
“I don’t know what Crystal told you or what you think you know, but I wasn’t on a hustle last night. I met up with an old friend.” It’s not a complete lie. I didn’t get any money out of it, and I know one of the bikers.
“You fuck all your friends?” he grabs his crotch. “Thought we were friends too.”
Oh no. Not again. This time though I don’t have a lamp or any form of protection against the asshole. I think I’m going to vomit. The thought of his tiny dick coming anywhere near me is disgusting. I know he’s got a small one. Crystal told me they messed around once when she was drunk and pissed off at Bruno. I shudder at the mental image my brain is conjuring up right now.
“Tony,” Lefty’s voice booms down the corridor. “Why aren’t you on the floor?”
“Just giving Hazel her keys.” He reaches into his pocket to fish them out.
“Hurry up. I don’t pay you to dick around behind my back with the girls.”
“You got it, boss.” Tony drops my keys in my hand and gives me a look that says this conversation isn’t over.
“There’s my girl.” Lefty moves around Dirty Tony as he stomps off.
“Hey, Lefty.”
He puts one of his bulging arms around me, smelling of cheap cologne and stinky pussy. Some of the girls fuck around with him hoping for extra tips and more hours. Makes me sick. I don’t know how I’ve lasted this long without him trying something on me. I’m just grateful that he hasn’t. “Heard about Crystal. Know you girls are tight.”
“Yeah. Bruno’s a real dick.”
He flashes a gold tooth at me. Guy is a total sleaze who wears cheap suits. Stocky built like a freaking linebacker. He styles his black hair slicked back and keeps his face clean shaven. “You know with her gone, cher, I’m going to need you more than ever.” He strokes my cheek and I want to gag. What is it with men today? Do they all think women are helpless creatures waiting for any man to give them attention and dick?
“Yeah. Sure.” I smile faintly as bile bubbles in the pit of my stomach.
“Don’t tell the others but you’ve always been my favorite. You know if Tony is bothering you, I’ll take care of it. Just say the word. I take care of my girls. Especially my favorites.”
“I know you do. I’m good. Tony’s only being Tony. Was asking if I knew how Crystal is doing.” I want this nightmare to end.
“Real fucking shame, but you win some you lose some. Few of the girls mentioned pooling together to raise some money to help her out while she’s down. Though I told her some men are into that shit. Hell, who am I to judge?” He shrugs. “We’re going to have a good night. Go home and clean yourself up. Come back in an hour or two.”
“I will.”
“Good girl.” He pats my ass. Total slimeball. “See you tonight.”
“Later.” I hurry out and text Jackson.
Hazel: Hey, found my car. All good. Your truck is parked at Night Moves. What do you want me to do with your keys?
Jackson: I’ll text you when I get off.
Hazel: Okay. Thanks again.
I lock up Jackson’s truck and don’t read his reply. That’s one road I’m not looking to travel again no matter how cute his dimples are. I’ll figure out how to get his keys to him later. He’s probably using them as an excuse to see me again. I’m sure he has a spare. I give my car a once over, everything seems okay. No new dents or scratches.
I get in and secure my seat belt. Today has literally been fucked up the ass with no lube.
I’ve thought about it. I’m done with all this unnecessary bullshit. I can’t do this anymore. I’m going straight home to pack my shit and get the hell out of town. If it makes me look guilty then so what. I’m not ready to see Beni and who knows what kind of trouble Bruno and Crystal will drag me into. We may be friends, but they have a history our friendship can’t compete with. They have a pattern of fighting and making up. The other woman is always to blame. Not that I’m the other woman, but she’ll take his word over mine any day of the week. The hold he has on her is that strong.
I’m not stupid enough to get tangled up in that. Or I wasn’t until today. I’m not mad at Crystal. It’s not her fault Bruno is or was a dirtbag. I should’ve known better. Anywhere I try to settle in and plant roots ends up bad. I’m poison. Beni will be better off if he forgets all about me. I’ll be doing him a favor if he never lays eyes on me again. Jackson too. Even if he is a lying prick.
I arrive at my apartment. I’m frazzled and not paying attention or else I would be better prepared for what I walk into.
Holy. Benicio. My Beni sitting in the dark waiting for me smoking a cigarette. All sexy and brooding. Dark and mysterious.
“The game you’re playing is fucking stupid.”
I blink at his words. “Don’t call me stupid.”
“Never said you were. This game you are playing —you keep on gonna win some stupid fucking prizes, babe. Need someone to tame your wild pussy the way you run around playing men. Teasing and taking their money. Fuckin’ dumb. Dangerous. Gonna end up dead the way you’re headed.”
“I can take care of myself. Always have.”
“That was before.”
“Before what?”
“You tried to play me. Before I found you.”
I flip on the light and suck in a breath. How did he get even sexier since last night? His dark hair swoops over his forehead, hanging right above his brows and my fingers ache to run it back out of his face so I can stare into his eyes. Those gorgeous dark brown eyes, so dark they are almost black. “I don’t have time for this. You need to leave and forget you ever found me.”
My brain tells me to push him away. Not to be stupid. My heart though. My heart remembers everything about him. My heart is stupid.
“Can’t do that.”
My stupid heart swells. I want to cry. “I don’t remember giving you an option.”
“My little Honey Bee always buzzin’ in my damn ear for attention. Now you’ve got it. Followed you today. Took care of that mess you made. That your friend’s man or your pimp?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “What?”
“Laid him out pretty good with that lamp.”
Bruno coming at me flashes in my thoughts. I heard something and fled the scene. “It was you? You came through the back door.”
“Yeah, what I said. Now get your ass over here.”
“Why?”
“Don’t like to repeat myself.”
“No. I mean why are you here? Carrying my picture in your wallet? You left me. Why show up after all these years?” I drop my gaze to my feet momentarily. It hurts to look at him now having his identity
confirmed. Though deep down I think part of me knew. We were always in tune to one another. Like our bodies are on the same frequency.
“Looked for you when I got out, but you were gone.”
I snort. “Right.” I don’t want to believe that. It’s been easier to tell myself that he never came back. Hope is a dangerous drug for girls like me. Tragic childhood. Unwanted. Forgotten. Unlovable, but Beni loved me.
Stupid, stupid heart. My chest tightens and I pull in a heavy breath. No one has ever saw me but him.
“C’mere, Hazel.” The way he says my name makes my heart skip a beat. It’s intimate, almost carnal. The way he looks at me as though I’m completely naked makes me wish I were.
I was addicted to him. Completely obsessed.
“You hadn’t got the jump on ol’ boy today I would’ve walked into something else entirely. Woulda found you taking his dick and you woulda watched me and felt me splatter his brains all over you. That what you want? To be playing games with men who don’t find it cute when you don’t follow through with all that teasing? He your pimp?”
“You think I’m a sex worker?” Wow. That’s a low blow. His accusation punches me in the gut. All the air I sucked in goes sailing right out of me.
“Call it what you like but never did I imagine when I took the beatings I did to protect you...,” he growls stalking toward me blowing out a puff of smoke and puts his cigarette out in a beer bottle before he’s on me. “Selling my pussy. Trading it for what? A little change. Better than that. Know what happens to girls like you?” He grabs my chin roughly, his fingers bite in my skin forcing me to meet his heated gaze.
Its as though the fires of hell are blazing in his eyes. I don’t know if I should run or give into him.
“Your pussy?”
“You know it. I know it. Belongs to me, Hazel. You have from the moment we first met. When you were just a dirty snot nosed brat.” His other hand moves between my legs, grabbing me with possession like he’s the damn king of my jungle.
He might as well beat on his chest like a damn gorilla.
I should tell him to go fuck himself, but he’s right about one thing. I’ve always been drawn to him in a way I can’t explain. Even when I wasn’t old enough to understand the things I felt for him, I sought him out. Crawled into his bed at night. Wanting him to do terrible yet beautiful things to my body without apology.
Warmth pools in my lower belly and wetness coats my inner thighs. Dirty thoughts of him shoving me against the wall and fucking me right here filter through my mind, distracting me momentarily from the matter at hand.
I can’t afford to be distracted by his charm and good looks.
Chapter Ten
I knock his hands away. “Why didn’t you say who you were?”
“I was about to when you fucking drugged me.”
“You did that to yourself. I was going to give that beer to Crystal because I felt guilty about using you. I liked you. It’s your own damn fault.”
Metal clanks and wraps around my wrists.
“What are you doing?”
“Was gonna drug your friend, huh? Guess that’s why Viking woke up with his balls frozen to a lawn chair, yeah?”
I pull against the handcuffs. “You made your point. Now let me go.”
“Not happening. What you aren’t getting, babe. I’m not here to play catch up. Was sent to get you.”
“What does that even mean? And what’s with the biker shit? Your name’s Holy now?” Anger flares inside me, and I debate screaming.
“Fate.”
“Uncuff me or I’ll scream rape.”
“Go ahead. Cops come.” He shrugs. “I’ll tell them how my woman loves to role play. Loves for me to ravish her. Pretend I’m a burglar. Tie you up and tease all your holes while you beg for mercy.”
I still at his words because my insides just melted at the idea of him doing all those things. Sweet mercy, do I want him to have his way with me. All raw and primal like a fucking savage.
Shit. I need to focus on getting out of here and not under him. Right now though my body is screaming for him to have his way with me and fulfill his naughty little fantasy.
I blush at the filthy images I’m imagining.
He smirks at my reaction. “Like that, huh?”
“No.”
Benicio licks his lips. “Mmm. Yeah, we’ll play.” The pad of his thumb traces my lips, and I part them, tempted to suck his fingers between them. “Fuck, Honey Bee. Had no damn idea you’d grow up to be so damn sexy.”
“Don’t call me that, Beni. I’m not that little girl anymore.”
“No, you’re not and name is Holy now.” He stares me down, enjoying the way my body has filled out since we were last together.
“Right. Big. Bad. Biker. Came to take me. So, what are you waiting for? Take me, Holy.” I dare him to do it. Right here. Right now.
Rolling his lips inward he chuckles slightly. “We need to talk.”
“Okay. When you remove these.” I hold up my wrists.
“Can’t chance it.”
“I’m not going to run.”
“Got your number and yeah already know that about you. Was always your first instinct to run until you started climbing in my bed. Wrapping them skinny legs around me. These sweet lips pressing to my neck. Whispering how you wanted to run away with me. Can still taste your tears.”
“You don’t know me.” The words sound hollow even to me. There once was a time when no one knew me better. Not anymore though. “We’ve both changed.”
“Yeah.” He leans in close, pressing my back to the wall. “Not as sweet as you used to be.” I twist my head when his mouth gets closer.
It’d be all too easy to kiss him. I should plant one right on his lips to distract him. The only problem with that plan is I’m afraid I’ll like it too much. I know I will. His kisses were addictive. I can’t fall back under his spell, though I desperately want to.
God, do I wish it were that simple.
Tension crackles between us, and I find it hard to breathe with him so close. His lips too tempting. Too familiar.
I’m drowning in him, and I need a lifeline. He used to be my protector, but I can’t trust him. He came here for reasons he’s yet to disclose. He planned to fuck me without sharing the truth. I can’t forgive his deception even if every cell in my body is claiming to love him still despite the time that has passed and the lies that linger between us.
He swore he’d never hurt me, but he broke that promise. He swore it in blood. We were bonded by it and my body and heart remember. My mind though. My mind says he’s dangerous. Swooping in like a thief in the night to play my white knight. My hero. My Saint. Calling himself Holy when there is nothing saintly about him.
“Will sound crazy but found your family or more like they found me.”
“My family?”
“Yeah. Your uncle, my club Prez, sent me to his sister. Said she was looking for the daughter she gave up for adoption. Imagine my surprise when I’m given your photo and told where to find you. It’s fate.”
“Fate.” I shake my head. “I don’t care about some club or people who never wanted me.”
“It’s not that simple. Lily had her reasons.”
“You’ve met the woman who gave birth to me?”
“She’s been searching for you.”
“Right. That’s why she gave me away and turned her back on me. You of all people should understand why I want nothing to do with her.” The thought that some stranger thinks she has some claim to me makes my skin crawl.
“If you knew what she’s gone through.”
“And now you’re making excuses for her.”
“When you hear what she has to say—”
I cut him off. “No. I don’t owe her anything. Why? Why would I want to meet her?”
“Because she’s your mother.”
“No. She gave birth to me, but this Lily, whoever she is...” I shake my head. “She’s not my mother.”
“Don’t have time to argue on this with you.”
“It’s not up for debate.” I can’t believe he’s being like this. Taking the side of a strange woman over mine. He knows how fucked our childhoods were. There’s no excuse. No reason in this world that will make me feel bad for her. She gave me up. Well too bad too sad for her.
“Agreed. Let’s get you a bag packed. Need to get back to Royal Road to get my bike so we can head home to West Virginia.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t even know you anymore.”
“Cute that you think you have a choice.” He reaches inside his leather vest and brings out chains and a leather collar.
“What’s that for?”
“Claiming you, Hazel. Putting you under my protection. But making sure your ass can’t get far should you try to run.”
“So, what, you’re just going to kidnap me?”
“Call it what you want to.”
“What the hell do you mean putting your claim in on me?”
“Means you’re my Old Lady. Means anyone who touches you answers to me. You belong to me.”
“I’m not your anything, Beni.”
“You’ll be whatever the fuck I want you to be. Always been mine, Hazel. Always,” he growls.
His fingers stroke my throat tender and with care as he wraps the leather choker around the slender column.
“Beautiful,” he mutters and kisses my skin behind my ear.
I swallow hard and close my eyes hoping he doesn’t notice the shiver that swept through me at his touch or the chill bumps that are now racing up and down my arms. I’m pissed off and turned on. I don’t know if I want to knee him in the balls or go down on my knees to suck him off.
He tugs on the choker or collar whatever it is. I hear a snap and open my eyes.
He yanks on the chain, wrapping it around his fist until we are nose to nose. His mouth is conveniently close to mine. Full of broken promises and lies.
“I know you aren’t happy with me. Know I let you down, babe, but I’m here now.”
“Fuck you. I’m not an animal. I’m not your property. You can’t just put your collar on me and think I’m your possession. Your Old Lady.”
Taken By The Biker (Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV, #6) Page 6