by Nicole James
“Thanks for all you’ve done for me.”
“You’re welcome. You did good tonight, kid. I’d be proud to have you at my back. Things don’t work out with the Kings, give me a call.”
I grin, because that compliment is huge, and he knows it. “I’m honored.” I look at the floor. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain all this. I’m screwed either way. If I tell this story, my club will know about me losin’ that bag, even if it was only for a few hours. I’ll lose my patch. If I lie, I’m lying to the club.”
He comes in and leans back against the dresser. “You want some advice?”
“Absolutely.”
“Tell the truth. Yeah, you screwed up, but you also took it upon yourself to make it right. And you didn’t hesitate to pull in whatever favors you needed to get the job done. That’s the kind of man I’d want at my back—one that will stop at nothing to accomplish the mission.”
“Thank you. I’ll take that advice.”
“Smart man.” He grins, and shoves off the dresser. “I’ll go tell your woman to come in, and I’ll have one of the girls bring you in some breakfast.”
“Appreciate it.”
He leaves and a minute later, Kami runs in the room.
“Are you okay?” She drops to the bed and cups my face.
I take her hand and kiss the palm. “I’ll be fine. He stitched me up, and gave me some antibiotics. How’s your hand?”
“It’s throbbing.”
“You need another pain pill. Here, he left me some of the same stuff they prescribed for you.” I point to one of the bottles on the side table. “Give me one, while you’re at it.”
She shakes out two and hands me one, and I pop it down, chasing it with a slug from the water bottle.
We’re both being quiet, and I want to know what’s on her mind. I dig in my jeans and pull out her necklace. Her face lights up.
“You found it!”
“We’ll have to get the clasp fixed. But all the diamonds are still in the settings.” I cup her good hand and drop it in the palm, folding her fingers closed. “You keep that safe, short cake.”
She smiles at the nickname, but she looks sad, as well.
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head and the tears flow. “I don’t know. I was just so afraid I was going to lose you.” She holds up her hand, fisting the necklace. “This doesn’t mean anything compared to you.” She wipes the wetness from her cheeks, and huffs out a laugh. “I’m sorry. I’m just emotional tonight.”
“Aw, babe. Come here.” I hook the back of her neck and haul her to me, pulling her into my arms. “I’m fine. You’re fine. It’s all good.”
“You got the money back?”
“Not all of it. They’d already spent about fifteen hundred.” I blow out a breath. “I’ll just have to replace it.”
“I have my dress money. You can use that.”
“Your what?” I grin.
“I have a little money that my grandmother had set aside for my wedding dress. She called it my dress money.”
“Babe, I’m not taking money that was supposed to go for your wedding dress. Hell, that’s like sacred to a girl, right?”
She shrugs. “I don’t want you to get in trouble with the club. You said if they found you were short, you were dead. I don’t want you dead, Saint.”
I grin, happy at her words of concern. “I’ve got it covered.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I have some money, enough to cover this much at least.”
“When are we heading back?”
“We’re not.”
“We’re staying here?”
“Yeah. It’s the kind of invitation you don’t turn down. Not unless you want to be rude.”
There’s a knock on the door, and a woman appears with a smile and a tray of food. Kami takes it and sets it on the nightstand, then proceeds to feed me. I’m not such an invalid that I couldn’t do it myself, but I know she needs to feel useful, so I let her. If I’m being honest, I’m also enjoying the way she’s fussing over me.
I make sure she eats a bite for every one she gives me.
Soon a wave of exhaustion hits me, and I yawn.
She stands, and kisses me. “You rest. I’m going to return this tray to the kitchen.”
I nod, and watch her leave, then close my eyes and drift off.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Kami—
Saint sleeps the day away, and Shades assures me that’s normal with the blood loss. I worry, and check on him periodically, but the women in the club keep me occupied playing cards.
Ghost walks up to the table, and looks at me. “You know how to shoot a gun, darlin’?”
His question catches me by surprise, and I shift my gaze to Jessie, his ol’ lady who sits at the table with Skylar and me. “Um, no.”
Jessie grins. “Sounds like it’s time for a lesson.”
Ghost nods. “After what happened to you last night, I agree, I think you need a lesson. Come on, girls.”
I get up and follow them outside. We all load into a crew-cab pickup and Ghost drives us to a wooded area. As he turns the wheel onto a two-lane dirt road, he meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Club’s got a little shooting range setup back here.”
He parks in a grassy open area, and we climb out. There are some crude targets set up across the field.
Ghost pulls out a weapon. “Ever held a gun?”
I shake my head, and he puts it in my hand. It’s heavier than I expected. He shows me the different parts, and how to load it.
Then he goes through all the steps, and my brain files it all away. Don’t forget the safety. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re prepared to fire. Breathe. Aim carefully. Squeeze the trigger gently; don’t jerk it. Aim small; miss small.
He teaches me how to stand and how to fire.
We go over everything again and again, until I’m comfortable shooting and am able to hit the target most of the time as long as it’s within twenty feet, which Ghost assures me is really the only time I’ll ever need to shoot.
“He gets that close, you’ve got him, babe. You won’t have to ever feel helpless again.”
The girls all cheer me on, and give me a high five when I make a bullseye.
When we’re through, I go to hand the gun back to Ghost. “How much does one of these cost? I like this model.”
He waves it off. “I’m gonna give that to you as a gift.”
Jessie pipes in. “It’s the same one I carry. It’s a good little gun.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re giving it to me?”
Ghost grins. “Just shut up and say thank you, kid.”
I look to Skylar. “Do you think Saint will be okay with this?”
Ghost chuckles. “Tell him I gave it to you, and if he has a problem with it, he can come see me.”
I smile. “Thank you. You’ve all been so wonderful to both of us.”
Ghost looks in my eyes. “Saint stopped to help us when we needed it. You got yourself a good man.” He pats my shoulder. “Hang on to him, darlin’.”
We ride back to the club, and I go with Skylar and Jessie to the kitchen where we whip up some tacos.
I watch the way this club interacts with each other, and realize they really are like a loving family. The men hug and kiss their ol’ ladies, and there’s plenty of laughter. They tease each other, and they make me laugh. I wonder if that’s what Saint experiences with the Kings. Could it be like this for us—the loving way these men are with their women?
It would be nice to be a part of a big family like this, everyone looking out for each other, and are there for each other. I understand for the first time the pull this must have for Saint.
But the fact that right now he lays in a bed with a bullet wound reminds me that this is, under everything else, still a very dangerous way of life.
Finally, I’m getting tired myself, and I say goodnight and retire to the room they’ve given us
for the night.
I slip in quietly, but there’s movement from the bed.
“I was just thinking about coming looking for you, babe.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Still tired.”
I sit on the edge of the bed. He still looks pale to me. “Can I see your wound?”
Saint rests propped against the headboard; his chest bare, except for the bandaging. He smiles at my absurd request, humoring me and moving his arms out of the way. I pull back the bandage a bit, because I have to see for myself how bad it is.
He winces, and my eyes flash to his. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart.”
I examine the work the doctor did. The wound is a stitched up gash the length of a lipstick, and it hits me how close the bullet came to hitting vital organs.
Saint lifts his hand to stroke his fingers down my cheek. “Look at you—all bruised. I promised your mom I’d take care of you. You deserve better.”
“Hush.”
“Don’t tell me to hush.” His brows slash down. “I put you in danger leaving you in the truck alone like that with all the money.”
“I didn’t give you much choice.”
“I shouldn’t have done it. You shouldn’t have been in that truck at all that night.”
“I’m okay. But you—you’re the one who’s hurt. I hate this. I wish you’d give up this life. Please? For me.”
“Kami, don’t. You know I’d do anything for you, just don’t ask me to do that. You and me, we’re too different. You come from a different world; me—I’m just the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks.”
“You’re wrong. To me you’re everything.”
He purses his lips, and shakes his head. “I’m not what you need. I’ve got no right to ask you to stay, to sign up for this and put you in danger again.”
“Saint you’ve been there for me whenever I needed you, over and over again. You held me when I had to say goodbye to my mom, you were there for me when I went to see her. Every sprain and cut, you’ve been there for me. Not to mention you gave me the most special gift I’ve ever gotten. I can’t even imagine facing the future without you in it.”
“You’re stronger than you know, and you’re braver than any girl I’ve ever met. You’re going to be just fine.
“It’s you who brings out that courage in me. It’s you who gives me that strength to face my future.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got talent, beauty, stubbornness and heart. That’s more than a lot of people.” He tips his head toward mine. “You know, all you have to do is look at me, and I get lost in those pretty eyes of yours. They wash away everything bad, but you deserve better, Kami.”
I lay my head on his chest, and cling to him. “There’s no better place than right here. Just as long as I’m here in your arms, there’s nowhere else I want to be.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Sweetheart.”
“I thought I lost you today.” The words come out in a whisper.
He strokes my back. “I’m right here.”
“I was so afraid.” I lift my head and stare into his eyes. “You say I’m brave.”
“You are.”
“Then I need to be brave right now and tell you something.”
He frowns, and cups my face. “You can tell me anything, baby.”
“I love you, Saint. I’m in love with you.”
He smiles, and strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I think I’ve loved you since the day I saw you clutching that tree like you were never letting go. But you did. You let go, and you trusted me. That’s a powerful thing.”
“I trust you with everything. No one else will ever be to me what you are.”
“I’m nothing.”
“That’s not true. You, you’re everything.”
“Come here.” He cups the back of my neck and drags my mouth to his.
When he pulls back, he stares into my eyes. “I ask you to do something, will you do it?”
“Yes. Anything.”
“Stand up.”
I frown, but comply, worried that he’s going to tell me to go.
He lifts his chin. “Take off your clothes for me.”
My mouth parts slightly, but I do as he asks, stripping my shirt over my head, and shimmying out of my pants. When I’m down to my bra and panties, I hesitate, feeling a little self-conscience.
“Keep goin’, babe.” His dark eyes are heavy with desire as they sweep over me, lingering at my breasts, pushed up in the demi bra. I reach back and unhook it, then let it drop.
He sucks in a deep breath and then he lifts his chin, his eyes dropping to the scrap of lace keeping his eyes from what he longs for most.
I slip them down and step out of them. I’m completely naked now, and I stand there, letting him get his fill.
“Beautiful. Prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He lifts his hand. “C’mere, gorgeous.”
I go to him. “But you’re hurt. We can’t.”
“We can. You just need to climb on top and do all the work.” He’s already undoing his pants and pulling out his hard cock. I smile, and change plans, scooting down to wrap my hand around his throbbing length. Staring up in his eyes, I take him in my mouth.
“Fuck, yes,” he hisses, sinking his fingers into my hair and rocking up with his hips. He fucks my mouth and this time I don’t let him pull me off. “You want it baby? You gonna take every drop?” His voice is urgent and gravelly with desire.
I nod, and he comes in my mouth. Like I promised, I swallow it all.
His eyes are heavy as he stares at me, and then smiles that cute bad boy smile that wraps around my heart every time.
“Slide up here, pretty girl.”
I do, and he positions my knees on either side of his chest, then grabs my ass and pulls my pussy to his waiting mouth. I put my hands on the wall and throw my head back. His grip on me is tight, his strong arms keeping me pinned where he wants me, and he takes his time, ramping me up slowly, until I’m bucking against him.
“Oh, God, yes.” I pant.
His tongue is magic, and I can’t get enough, until my orgasm hits me fast and hard, and I slide over the edge into ecstasy.
He lightens his hold on me, and presses a kiss to my belly, and I melt down into his waiting arms. He positions me cuddled against his good side. I put my head on his chest and listen to his strong heartbeat. It reminds me again of how close I came to losing him today, and I press a kiss to his skin, and whisper, “I love you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I love you, too, baby girl.”
I don’t reply, and I wait nervously for him to qualify it or for the dreaded but. When it doesn’t come, and he just strokes my back over and over, I relax, and we both seem content to just hold each other.
I fall asleep with his arms around me, feeling safer than I’ve ever felt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Kami—
I throw a piece of popcorn at Saint, and laugh. We’re on his couch Monday evening, and watching a movie on TV. It’s good to finally be able to breathe easy again.
We raced back from Birmingham, and Saint made the bank deposit, filling in the missing money, and putting it in the night drop, so it was there when they opened at seven.
When we got back to his place, we were both exhausted physically and mentally, and collapsed on the couch. Then when the afternoon drug on, he got a text saying the MC probably won’t be back until Tuesday, so we’ve had an enjoyable day.
We ordered pizza and just hung out.
I’m on the phone with Mary Elizabeth, trying not to laugh as Saint flings popcorn back at me. We’re about to have an all out war.
“I’ve got to go. We’re about to watch Guardians of the Galaxy, which is apparently his favorite movie—like—ever.” I tease him and he throws a handful of popcorn at me. I click off the phone and point to the screen. “Oh, this is my favorite part when Chris Pratt dances!”
Saint give
s me the side-eye, grinning, then gets up and starts dancing. He cranks the volume on the TV, and “Come and Get Your Love” blasts through the room. He’s really quite good, but I can’t help laughing. “Not bad, Ace.”
He cups his hand to his ear. “What? I can’t hear you?”
I throw a pillow at him, but he grabs my hand and yanks me up with him, pulling me in close and dancing the rest of the song with me.
When the music fades off we stare at each other, and he kisses me. The spell is broken when his phone vibrates in his pocket. We break apart, and he hits the volume on the remote, muting the television.
I sit back while he goes into the kitchen to take the call. The house is small, so I can still hear him.
“Yeah?” He paces. “What—over at Ruin’s?” He paces some more, then laughs. “Porn isn’t supposed to be that dangerous.” He huffs. “Okay, it’s not a joke. So, you want me to go break up a catfight, is that it? Seriously? Do I get paid extra for this?” He stops in the archway and leans against the frame, his eyes on me. I pretend to be checking my nails, but I strain to hear.
“Okay. I’ll leave now.” He hangs up and shoves his phone in his pocket. “I’ve got to go out for a minute.”
I look over at him, and something in his eyes tells me not to bother asking to tag along.
“Okay.”
He grabs his vest and heads out to his bike.
I don’t know what possesses me, but I shove my shoes on and grab my purse and the keys to his truck off the kitchen table. Then I wait for his bike to fire up and pull out.
I don’t waste a second, dashing out the door and jumping in the driver’s seat. By the time I get to the end of the driveway, I see his tiny red taillight heading toward town. I pull out and gun it, trying to close the distance enough so I don’t lose him. I hang back as we roll through town, and finally I see him make a turn. A few minutes later he pulls into the driveway of a big house. I hit the shoulder, turning into some strange driveway so he doesn’t spot me.
I idle, watching him shut off his bike and walk to the door. He doesn’t stop to knock; he just barges right in.
Lights are on in every window of the house, and I wonder if they’re having a party. Saint’s words come back to me. Porn isn’t supposed to be this dangerous. So, you want me to break up a catfight?