Cain (Bones MC 1)

by Marteeka Karland

  Once the last of the tremors left him he rolled them so they lay on their sides, holding her tightly against his chest. His cock was still deep inside her, and he was reluctant to lose that connection with her.

  “Cain, that was wonderful.”

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No. Not at all. It was…” She giggled. “It was fun. So much fun.”

  He swatted her ass lightly as he pulled out of her and disposed of the condom. “Wench.” He moved them back to the pillows and covered them both with the quilts. Once he had her settled against him, her hand resting on his chest, her head on his shoulder, he sighed. Cain was more contented than he could ever remember being.

  “Anytime you need me, baby. Anytime.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, her voice drowsy.

  “Good. It goes both ways. I’ll be taking you when I need you too.”

  He felt her smile against him. “See that you do.”

  * * *

  It was a long time before Cain finally dozed off. When he woke, he knew what he was going to do. No sense half-doing anything. He’d force Angel into his world and see how she fared. If she was miserable, if he couldn’t make her happy and find a place for her she could live with, he’d let her go.

  Who the fuck was he kidding? He’d never let her go. Didn’t think he was capable of it. Not since he’d had her. Angel was like no woman he’d ever met before. She was innocence and sin rolled into one. She responded to him unlike any other lover he’d taken and was genuine about it. He’d looked into her eyes when he’d taken her. She’d been as lost as he’d been. No. He wouldn’t let her go. So that left only one option.

  But how to make her happy here? With his club?

  Carefully, he extracted himself from her arms in the early morning light. He didn’t want to wake her yet. Not until he’d had time to form a plan of attack. First things first, though. He needed to talk to Mama and Pops. They would be imperative in winning her over.

  God, but she was beautiful! Long hair black as a raven’s wing. As the sun filtered through the curtain, little blue highlights wove within the curls. During the night, he remembered that lovely hair twining around them both, tangling them together. Her eyes, expressive and wide with wonder, were like the richest amber. He’d known she was trouble the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. Trouble for him. For a battle-hardened man like him, conceding defeat to a small woman was intolerable.

  Except it wasn’t.

  The pleasure he’d found in her body was nothing short of cataclysmic. She’d altered his life from the moment he’d seen her, but now he had to figure out how to secure her to him.

  Cain turned his back on her, padding downstairs to the phone. He called Mama and set up a time for both him and Angel to meet with her. Then he and his brothers would plan what to do when Slash came for her.

  He was working that over in his mind when his phone rang.

  “Yeah,” he said in greeting.

  “We’ve got maybe a day -- if that -- before someone from Kiss of Death approaches us,” Torpedo said with no embellishment. “Someone tipped them off. Data says someone close to us. Probably inside the club.”

  “He say who?” It was all Cain could do not to voice a denial. Someone inside the club? Betraying their brothers? There was no one he didn’t trust completely. Every single one of them had been together for years either in the military or with ExFil, the independent contracting company he owned. They ran protection detail overseas for government officials of several nations. Bones took on anyone who could pay and needed their services. Bottom line, they’d had each other’s backs in the worst of circumstances and where the only people they knew for a fact they could rely on were each other. No way had one of them betrayed the club in this manner.

  “He said he had an idea. He also said not to lose your cool. It was all good.”

  “Really. It’s all good. Someone leads the fuckin’ enemy to our fuckin’ door, and it’s all good?”

  “He said he’d give you an answer by the time you made it to the clubhouse.” Torpedo didn’t sound concerned. Probably no one else could pick up on the little nuances of his moods, but Cain could. The rest of his brothers as well. So damned many years together made that possible. One more thing he had to consider with Angel. He was several years older than she was. It was just too damned much to worry about right now, especially with the threat approaching them and, possibly, the one inside his own club.

  “He’d better. And there better be a good fuckin’ reason or I may kill someone tonight.”

  “Just get over here with your woman. Bohannon is waiting for you at the end of your driveway.”

  “I don’t need babysittin’.” Not that it would do any good to tell the other man that. As vice-president of the club, Torpedo had the right to put men on him if he thought it was necessary.

  “I’m aware of that. You’re as lethal as any of us. But with Kiss of Death out there, as well as Scars and Bars, I’m not taking any chances. You’ll protect Angel if you’re attacked and leave yourself vulnerable.”

  “I can take care of myself and her.”

  “I know. Bohannon is still waiting at the end of the drive. Goose and Dead Eye got you from a distance.”

  With an angry stab of his thumb, Cain disconnected the call. “Fucker,” he muttered. He hadn’t really expected anything different, but he still didn’t like it. Dead Eye was the team’s sniper. Goose was his spotter. The two had been inseparable since they’d been assigned together. Having those two on him meant Bohannon was spooked and in full protection mode. He could only imagine how he had their clubhouse locked down.

  With an oath, he tossed the phone across the room. It bounced harmlessly on a chair. Not nearly as satisfying as if it had gone through the window or shattered against the wall, but probably for the best. If Bohannon had tried to call him and Cain hadn’t answered, there would have been hell to pay. He hated not having time to ease Angel into this. Making love to her all night was one thing, but she wasn’t ready for a commitment. The best he could hope for was to have her turn to him for her protection.

  “Cain?”

  He looked up and his heart melted just a little. She stood on the landing, the sheet from their bed wrapped around her. One small hand clutched it tightly to her chest as she gazed down at him. Those lovely amber eyes were wide with trepidation. All that glorious hair fell around her to her waist like a dark cloud, making her look small and vulnerable.

  “We need to go back the clubhouse,” he told her.

  “I thought we were staying here a while.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. There’s been a change in circumstances, and Bohannon has requested us back where we can better defend ourselves if needed. He likes us all in one place, and I don’t like the idea of anyone knowing where my house is outside the club.”

  “By anyone, do you mean Slash and Kiss of Death?”

  He shrugged, trying to be casual about it. “We’ll have an escort back to the clubhouse. Once there, you can go to my room and rest if you want.”

  “What about the children?”

  “Mama and Pops will bring them as well. They’re in our circle of protection just like you are.”

  She didn’t say anything for a long moment, looking down at him intently, probably trying to gauge the truth. Finally, she nodded and turned to go to her room to dress. Cain wished he’d brought her things to his bedroom so it would be their bedroom. He’d never shared a personal space with a woman. Just one more thing about his life he was dying to change for her. God, he was in so much trouble!

  Ten minutes later, they were on the road, Bohannon, Sword, and Trucker flanking them. Cain looked up on the ridge above the winding road to his lakeside home. Sure enough, Dead Eye and Goose were above them, keeping them safe from a distance. His brothers. Having his back. They always had, and he was confident they always would. Now they had one more person to protect.

  They rolled in through the fence su
rrounding the property. The second they were through, the two prospects waiting inside slid the gate shut before going back to their posts in the trees. Two more prospects stood guard on top of the clubhouse.

  Cain parked, helping Angel to her feet. He urged her inside and led her to his room.

  “Rest. I’ll come for you later.”

  “You’re not sending me to my room like I’m a naughty child, Cain,” she said, sticking her chin up defiantly. “I’m a big girl.”

  He grinned at her, unable to resist bending his head and taking her mouth briefly. “I know, Angel. No one is making you stay here. You can come with me to the great room if you want. I think the children are already there.”

  “Good. I’ll stay with them. An abrupt change in routine might frighten them.”

  “They’re strong kids, baby. Don’t worry so much about them.”

  “Someone needs to, Cain. I have no idea what happened to them, but I know without a doubt they’ve been through something bad.”

  “I know. Suzie needs someone fussing over her from time to time. Daniel and Cliff, however, need to feel like they’re taken seriously as men. They’re young yet, but they still need to feel as independent as they can.”

  “They look out for her, you know. Protect her. They’re very good at it, too.”

  “They’re good young men.”

  He and Angel stepped into the great room. All the club members were there, including Mama, Pops, and the kids. A couple of prospects lingered by the door, but took a cue from Bohannon, nodded at the other man, then stepped outside, closing the door behind them.

  “Everyone OK?” Torpedo looked to Cain.

  “Why wouldn’t we be?” he shrugged.

  Bohannon raised an eyebrow, giving him and Torpedo a look before taking a seat. No one said anything for a while. Sober faces looked at Cain, waiting for him to speak. Looking around the room, he didn’t see even one face he didn’t trust with his life. So who was their traitor?

  Before he had to say anything, Data cleared his throat. “I think we can all relax,” he said. “Cain, you know I wouldn’t say that lightly.”

  Cain did know. “I understand. Threat contained?”

  Data shrugged. “Mostly. As much as it can be, anyway. Slash is still coming, and I think with a few of his trusted men, but everything else is… fine. Understandable even.”

  So, whoever betrayed them had a reason. Didn’t mean there wouldn’t be consequences. Just meant they got to live.

  “We’re out of time,” Bohannon said, meeting Cain’s gaze directly. So, Kiss of Death was on the way now. For some reason, Bohannon didn’t want to come out and say it, so Cain didn’t either. He met the other man’s gaze and was surprised to see the man flick a glance where the children and Angel had huddled together before looking back at Cain. So, Angel? No. He didn’t believe that. Which left only the children…

  Cain cocked his head, ready to ask Bohannon what the hell he meant when one of the prospects, Clutch, opened the door. He didn’t say a word, just stuck his head in and found Bohannon’s gaze, nodding once.

  Every member of the team reached for a weapon. They were silent except for the metallic slide-clicks of guns all over the room as each man chambered a round. Moments later, three large men in patched Kiss of Death leathers entered. Moments after that, their president followed.

  Slash was deceptively short, but stocky and heavily muscled. His head was balding, and he’d taken to shaving it. Dark, hawk-like eyes peered around the room, though he was careful to keep behind his men. He might be showing balls the size of Texas coming into another club’s house intending to demand something from them, but he wasn’t completely stupid. Just… uninformed. He had no idea who he was dealing with.

  “Slash, I presume.” Cain kept his voice congenial but didn’t move to greet the other man with a handshake. “President of Kiss of Death?”

  “I am. You know who I am. Do you know why I’m here?”

  “If I knew for sure, you’d already be dead.” Cain didn’t pull his punches. He wanted the other men to know what they’d walked into. Mainly so that, when it all went to shit, he could say he gave them every opportunity to back out gracefully. The only reason he did that was for Angel’s benefit. He didn’t want her to see him as a cold-blooded killer, even if he could be when necessary. “Why don’t I hear it from your own mouth?”

  Slash lifted one corner of his mouth. “I’d heard you were a cocky bastard. I guess that’s true.”

  “Cocky may or may not be able to back it up.”

  “I’m assuming you think you can?”

  That irritated Cain. Surely this guy had done his homework before going deep in enemy territory. “Do you really want a rundown? I’d have thought you’d look into that before making the ride all this way.”

  Slash shrugged. “I did. I guess I just want to hear it, as you say, from your own mouth.” His grin was evil. What was his game?

  Cain glanced at Torpedo and Bohannon. Both men were on alert. He knew Bohannon had a direct link to the team guarding the house, as well as the prospects assigned to help. The enforcer’s face was hard, displeased in the extreme. He nodded, indicating there was no immediate threat, but to be alert. Apparently, Slash had brought more than he was showing. Not unexpected. He was stalling.

  “Very well. We’re all former Special Forces. We’re the people the CIA hires when they can’t take official action. Each of us have more sanctioned kills than your entire club has on the down-low. In short, none of us would hesitate to kill you for looking at Angel in a way we don’t much like. And we have anything and everything we need to wage an all-out war with any dumb fuck crossing our path.” He finished by resting his hand on the gun at his hip. “Anything else you want to hear straight from me?”

  The man looked a touch wary now, but didn’t back down. “She’s ours,” he said, indicating Angel. “So’s the little brat. You can have the boys if you want them. We just want the girls.”

  Cain raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “Give us the kid, and we’ll call it even.”

  “No.” Cain didn’t hesitate. Behind him, Suzie whimpered softly, but kept silent otherwise. “Angel’s my old lady, and Suzie and the boys will soon be ours legally.”

  Slash’s face darkened. “You can’t take property from another club. I already own both those bitches.”

  “Then we have nothing more to discuss.”

  The second the words left Cain’s mouth, Bohannon and Torpedo lunged for the two men near them. Cain was focused on Slash, who deftly dodged the fight to move deeper into the room. No doubt, he was going for the girls. A quick glance in their direction showed the two teenage boys shepherding Angel and Suzie as far back in the room as they could. The boys crouched down, ready to attack if anyone got too close. They looked wild, almost feral, lips peeled back from their teeth. Those boys looked as dangerous as any of the Bones members.

  Cain made a lunging dive for Slash, tackling him and landing two quick punches to the man’s gut. The satisfying grunt as the breath left Slash’s lungs told him he’d hit his mark. There was a vague impression of fights going on around him, but Cain’s focus was on Slash as the man tried to kick himself free.

  There was a flash of a gun, and Cain’s breath caught. Slash had pulled free his weapon and was taking aim at the group of kids and Angel where they huddled in the corner of the room.

  Chapter Seven

  Angel saw the gun. Knew Slash was going to kill them. Suzie didn’t scream. It might have been better if she had. The little girl clung to her, burying her face against Angel and whimpering softly. The boys had put themselves in front of her and Suzie like a solid wall, prepared to take the brunt of the attack.

  “NO!” She screamed, shoving Suzie away from her and back into the wall. Angel fought to get in front of the boys, to push them behind her to protect the little girl. She desperately wanted them away from what she saw as the front line.

  Cain managed to r
oll Slash over so that his aim was off. Thank God, too, because the gun went off with a deafening bellow, the bullet burying itself in the wall not two feet from little Suzie.

  “Bastard!” Angel screamed, throwing herself into the fight, needing to get the gun away from Slash. Cain had wrapped his legs around Slash’s middle from behind, locking them at the ankles. He had Slash’s gun hand over his head with Cain’s arm locked around Slash’s in some kind of complicated hold, preventing another shot. Slash still had his finger on the trigger, though, putting the other members of the club and his own men in just as much danger.

  All she had was her fists to fight with. She was a small woman and wasn’t sure how much good it would do her, but she swung with her right hand as hard as she could into Slash’s face.

  Just like that, all the fear and resulting rage came back to her. One blow turned to two. Then four. Then she turned over on her butt and kicked him in the face. Over and over she rained blows on Slash, needing to hurt him like his club had hurt her. Like he would have hurt her. He would have killed her. Would have killed the children she taught and had grown to love and respect. Little Suzie had been terrified from the moment the man had entered, as if she instinctively knew he was there to hurt her. For every woman who had ever been brutalized by this kind of man, she beat and kicked and punished Slash.

  It was a long while later when Cain let him go. Angel was still pounding a bloodied and beaten Slash when Cain and Torpedo pulled her off him. Slash didn’t move, his breath coming in a sickening rattle.

  “That’s enough, baby,” Cain soothed as he gently wrapped his arms around her, turning her away from the bloody mess. He urged her to look up at him as he pulled her closer, his strong arms securely locking her to him. Slowly, she became aware of everything around her. Cain’s strength. The absolute quiet, other than Slash’s labored breathing. The scent of blood and gun smoke.

  The intense turquoise of Cain’s eyes…