Renegade (Ruthless Tendencies Book 2)

by D. M. Burns

  Asia rented an apartment fifteen minutes out from my security firm, convenient for me, sucks for her. Swinging my truck keys around my finger, I’ve wedged myself into the dark cove of the third story walkway, waiting. I quietly observe as Asia climbs the stairs of her unit to retire for the night.

  Judging by the time that has elapsed since she left Rage’s, she either lied to her bestie about her dinner plans with the parents or it was cut short. If I had to guess, going off my firsthand experience, Miss. Grace pulled another Pinocchio. Badass little compulsive liar that she is. I can see time hasn’t changed a damn thing for this one.

  When the little ninja reaches the top step, she cuts back left heading for her apartment door. She’s carrying a loaded brown paper bag under one arm that looks like an alcohol run if I ever saw one and keys in the other. A ninja nightcap kinda night. As she fumbles with her lock, I step out of the shadows and soundlessly close in behind her.

  I’m wondering if she’s already partaking in the bagged party favors. Asia would never allow anyone to sneak up on her, reckless. It’s out of character for her to be so sloppy like this. Just as that thought streams through my mind, Asia drops everything in her hands. She retrieves something out of the back of her jeans lightning-fast and swings around to face me with arms extended in front of her. I find myself staring down the barrel of a smooth but lethal 9mm hand cannon. The fuck…

  Whatever was in the bag shatters against the ground saturating the concrete, total loss. Asia’s eyes squint at me and those baby browns are clouded with deadly intent mixed with indecision. Her entire body’s shaking but her grip and accurate aim are on point. I’m damn glad I pissed before leaving the office or I’d be a little embarrassed right about now.

  Having my hand in everything security related as well as limitless expertise in high-profile client protection, I’ve seen a lot of twisted sick shit. The results of which, can upend societies most stable individuals. Turning them into paranoid prisoners of the worst kind. Locking themselves up in their own mind of misery. This is what her reaction reminds me of, period. Her eyes are filmed over with fear and drowning out in shadowed secrets. What the actual fuck?

  Using my hand, I carefully touchdown on the barrel of her gun and lower it toward the ground away from the target that is my forehead. Tilting my head to the side, I study her as she blinks through the trance of death to Renegade. Her hands start to violently shake as she tucks the gun into the back of her jeans again. Adrenaline rush aftermath.

  “Jesus, Ren… I could’ve shot you.” She breathlessly whispers.

  You did years ago just without the gun. I’ve been a dead man walking around without a pulse, you bitch. She swipes her trembling hand across her forehead and leans against her door crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Call next time before just showing up.” She kicks the bag she dropped at her feet that’s now drained out the remnants of her vodka party for one cocktail aspirations. “Shit…”

  “So, you carry now, huh? Like your little body of trained violence wasn’t enough.” She looks off to the side of the breezeway and puts on a fake smile. “What’s going on Asia?” I step into her and she immediately straightens up, defensively. That stings a little. I’d never hurt her physically. That’s the least of her worries. Mentally though, that’s an open playground that I’m going to enjoy recess breaks at and often. “You got problems that you need help with?” Other than me.

  My intentions of being a fucker to her have been momentarily frozen. It might’ve been the gunmetal to forehead forced fuckery or the fact that the energetic, fun-loving chick I used to know is gone, completely. She disappeared years ago, and I haven’t one god damn clue where she went. This display right here was the confirmation I needed that she’s still active on that missing persons printout report, mentally.

  This lady in front of me right now, has secret storms brewing in her eyes. Something trims dangerously close to the cliff’s edge, ready to tip over. Or in this case, gun blast an ass. Take your pick. Either way, the outcome leads to bad shit.

  “Is there a reason why you’re here Ren?” She ignores my questions altogether, suit yourself. Those baby brown whiskey eyes are bouncing between mine.

  “If I said I was checking up on you, it’d be a god damn lie babe. I’m no fucking gentleman. At least not where you’re concerned.” I smirk.

  She lets out a labored breath of air as if she expected that verbal slap. She knows she deserves it. Sliding my hand into her silky locks at the side of her head, those soft strands thread through my fingers and her breath catches in her throat. Oh, brown sugar this is not what you think it is. I brush my thumb across her high cheekbone while leaning in searching those eyes. This girl used to represent everything real and sweet that I held close to my heart. Right before she ripped it out and took off with the motherfucker. This bitch can keep it too.

  “I know everything, Asia,” I whisper low across her full lips. To anyone who doesn’t know her they’d believe she gets weekly Botox. That’s not the case with this one. Those lips are dick-a-licious and real. The only thing phony with this beautiful vixen is her fucked for life heart. Her eyes snap open and pure shock is reflected. “That’s right. Let that settle into that cold fucking desolate hole of a heart you have. Because it damn sure has cemented into mine over the last five years, you wicked bitch.” My body starts to quake with a Hate Wars-Ruthless Tendencies drum solo introduction startup.

  That’s the keepsake I needed to navigate me back on track. My hand tightens in her hair with slightly restrained mercy. But I remind myself that this demon in heels is packing a fucking hand cannon in the back of her jeans, and she's damn sure, not scared to use it.

  “Renegade… I… Oh, God. Wait. You don’t understand. There are things…” She studders. Skipping over words in her fucked attempt to explain. Five years too late.

  I shake my head slowly from side to side while placing my index finger over her full lips silently hushing her. I don’t want to hear her fucking lies right now.

  “Get on out of here with that fuckery Asia. Save it. There’s nothing you can say to justify what you’ve done, not that you can. You know it. Shhh.” My eyes squint and I smirk in a way that would have most grown men cowering.

  She tries to focus on something beyond my shoulder as heated tears begin to leak from the corners of her deceitful eyes. I jerk her hair slightly to gather her attention back to me. Direct eye contact is what I demand.

  “It’s our cruel little secret, yeah? Everyone believes you to be good babe, but I know. I FUCKING KNOW.” I chuckle low with no humor, only hate. “If you hurt my family Asia, that includes Reese, I’ll forget about the girl that I once loved from high school. Even though it’s blatantly clear she’s dead and as far as I’m concerned, she’ll stay that way too. But I’ll make fucking with you in a bad way my new satanic pleasure. A 24/7 hobby until I have you bouncing the fuck back up outta Monroe County for good. Watching you go again won’t be a hardship bitch.”

  Stepping back, I release the grip I have on her hair and watch her deflate against her door. I turn on my costly kicks and whistle my way down the stairs without so much as missing a step-in stride or looking back. Fuck her.

  chapter 5 – asia

  five years ago

  Standing off on the far side of the stadium bleachers out of eyeshot, I’m covertly enjoying the view of Ren dressed out in his football uniform going hard during practice. It’s one of my secret obsessions. The guy’s a beautifully built machine that carries his body fluently, complete control. His natural abilities to manipulate every situation is tested and turns to triumph. It’s a God-given talent that he was graced with.

  Slumping against the wall, I squeeze my notebook into my chest and smile. Most of the time I miss out on his practices as well as his games because my after-school schedule is crazy with either karate or jujitsu training. Stealing glimpses of him here are like scripts given out to a starving actor for a Broadway play, life-defin
ing. Much like him they're etched into my heart. Little coveted victories that I treasure as mine.

  It was only a few months back when Reese summoned me from class needing my help. The very same day that I pointed the guys out to her. Renegade and Rage became our new assignment. Reese and I were their Creekside High welcoming committee. No shit, I wanted to bounce my happy ass down to Home Economics and bake a damn cake.

  That should’ve been my sign because I cook for no one. The last attempt I made at flipping the switch on the stovetop resulted in my dad breaking out the fire extinguisher. Death to scrambled eggs. Yeah, I screwed that up. Anyway, as I rounded the hall and made my way over to Rage and Reese all I saw was Renegade with that devious smile that promised naughty sex acts. What he did that day cemented me. I was his. He knew it too.

  “There you are,” I said to Reese but glared at Renegade. “Which one is mine.” Please let it be Renegade. If not, I’ll shank my best friend with a dirty butter knife and zero remorse.

  “I can’t speak for this asshole, but I’ll be yours anytime.” Renegade wiggled his eyebrows while motioning toward Rage.

  The schoolgirl giggle that presented itself from my lips sounded foreign to my own ears. Where did that shit come from? Next thing you know I’ll drop out of karate and join the fucking cheer squad. The fuck…

  “Please tell me that one is my door prize,” I whispered out loud while pointing at Renegade.

  “Asia please remember your role, yeah?” Reese said. I didn’t even bother responding to her reprimand. She knew me far better than that. There was no sense in pretending that my intentions weren’t laced with lust. “You’ll shadow Renegade, not bed him.” Oh yes, the fuck I will.

  I wanted to tell Reese to do us all a favor and ride that Rage. She wants too. Hell, Rage wanted to, too. They could kill two birds with one stone here or nut, whatever. Maybe Rage can expel the demons from his soul while fucking the dickless existence out of Reese. He can hump the fucking frustration from both their bodies. Rage take one for the team, you asshole. Help us all out! Those were my thoughts that I kept to myself. I simply settled for something more Reese appropriate.

  “Yes, mom.” I reached out and grabbed Renegade’s hand moving us down the hallway. “So, what are your dreams, Carter?”

  It was a generic question but one that I found engaging. Normally, I call everyone by their last name until I feel more comfortable with them. Getting into my comfort zone with this one was going to be a problem though. My body acted like an addict that just stepped away from the needle whenever he was near. Foreign shit was taking place.

  As soon as we cut the corner, he lassoed my arm back throwing me off balance into his chest. Then pushed open a random door that lead into the school's deserted video room. How he knew that room was even there is still unknown to me. He slow stalked me into the wall until my back-hit bricks. That produced a smirk out of him. But he didn’t stop moving until I felt his heated outline surrounding me.

  Those thick lips were dangerously in reach of my own. And I wanted them. I wanted him. School be damned. The way my body buzzed felt completely crazy. Like a child on a candy-rush, pop-rocks style. My heart jumped into my throat bumping out of my ears while my eyes bounced between silver circles waiting for his next move. Interested to see where he took this.

  “Your fucking eyes are the most beautiful shade of brown. There the tempting sweet color of brown sugar. But up close the detail in the outline appears to be highlighted with honey. Tell me, do you taste as sweet as the color of your eyes Miss. Grace?” My focus was on his lips the entire time he spoke. Switching back to his silver stare I smirk at him.

  “Mr. Carter, what are you doing?”

  “Exactly what I wanted to do this morning when I first saw you.”

  Both of his hands still on either side of the wall barricading me in. Those silver slits studying me as he slowly bows down closing his mouth over mine. Those lips felt feather soft and thick matching my own. My body prickled from awareness, which was new to me because nothing but our lips touched. He kept the inch distance divider between us. An aggravating space that I wanted to dispel.

  When his tongue swiped across my bottom lip, I opened up taking him in. He tasted of cinnamon. He was warm. He felt right. He was mine. I knew it right then. Biting down on his bottom lip produced a growl and he pulled away from me. We just stared at each other. I had never felt this way before. I knew he hadn’t either. You could see he was confused but intrigued. The same as me. Mind over matter my ass grandpops.

  “Yeah, you're even sweeter. But to answer your question, I’ll get back to you about my dreams. There’s been an unexpected game changer. Adjustments must be made in sexy welcomed ways, brown sugar. We’ll figure that out together though. You won’t admit it yet but you’re mine. So, call me Renegade, yeah? Save Mr. Carter for when you meet my dad.” He smiled that devious smile and nodded his head in a way that had me doing the same thing. Me, agreeable. That was a new one for the Asia Grace history books. Amidst our first conversation too, record-breaking. Jesus.

  Deep in thought of first conversation past and not paying attention, I’m swiftly lifted off my feet into a set of sturdy arms and tossed fireman style over a shoulder. Then I’m carted off to the dark corner behind the bleachers.

  Dropping my notebook, I see the ass outline and know exactly who captured me long before now. Leaning up, I peer down and clasp my hands around Renegade’s face. I giggle mimicking that same schoolgirl sound from months ago while taking in his boyish smile. Damn, he’s so full of life and I want to drown in it.

  “You scared the crap outta me, Ren. For such a big guy you sure are light on your feet.”

  “Caught you red-handed my little ninja badass. You’re not the only one that can attack without warning. You’re the sweetest and softest thing I’ve tackled all day babe. It goes without saying that I trust passing my balls off to you far more than anyone else.” His voice is playful and gruff. Always brimming over with energy. “I felt you before I saw you, brown sugar eyes.” He lets me slide down his hard body but never drops his hold on me. “What are you doing here baby? Besides appreciating my ass in the tights.”

  “Maybe I was checking out all the other smack-able ass’s in tights before heading off to karate class.” I wiggle my brows at him while scraping my nails through his sweaty long locks.

  “Don’t get the other guys injured babe. No doubt, I’ll break a motherfucker over you. It’ll piss the coach off and get me benched.” He chuckles but I can tell it’s a promise.

  He shakes his head slowly from side to side with that devious smirk in place on his beautiful face. When I hear his helmet hit the concrete my heart accelerates. Both of those large hands funnel through my hair tilting my face and he closes his mouth over mine.

  Parting my lips with his invading tongue, he steals my breath in exchange for that cinnamon-flavored taste lacing every swipe. My definition of heaven is found within him. My hands inch under his jersey manipulating a path around the pads in place to protect him. That’s my job now. I explore his Adonis outline inch by delicious inch. His forehead presses against mine holding me to him. Our breaths mixing together, one and the same.

  “Baby, are you mine?” He asks.

  “Mhhhh, yes,” I whisper. Always.

  “What’s your number one dream?” He draws back and peers at me with those silver eyes shining. Those hands still cradling my head like a precious child.

  “To teach jujitsu in my own place.” My eyes bounce between his as my heart kicks up in rhythm. I lick my lips and try to look down, but he won’t allow it.

  “You’re not a good liar. That’s a dream but it’s not your number one. Tell me brown eyes. What else?”

  “It’s you. Us. Together and happy. You’re Mine over Matter, Ren. We’ll figure it out together.” I mimic his words on that last part and he nods yes. I told him about my grandpop’s famous pow-wow’s. He knows the crucial meaning behind my words. He knows he was MIN
E before anything else matters. That’s the way it’ll stay too.

  Much like on the field, his lips softly touch down on mine, victory. He grabs me underneath my ass lifting me back off the ground encasing me within his gated arms. My legs lock around his narrow waist and he growls out from deep within his chest.

  “What are your dreams, Ren?” I ask.

  “To make sure yours come true. Adjustments were made baby.” He says as a matter of fact. “To build a family with you one day. But to love those brown sugar eyes always.” God, this guy started out as another transfer in. Now he’s my lifelong dream and blessing. “Your mine Asia Lyn Grace.”

  “I love you,” I whisper soft across his lips.

  I knew one day that I’d speak those words. Futuristically, I always saw myself being in my late forties before it happened though. Maybe at a dingy bar with no hope of a happily-ever-after miracle, settling for one of the barflies that frequents the same place as I. Someone that was an option instead of necessity.

  Not once did I expect to find my person in Monroe County and most definitely not at my young age. With those honest words shared, I glue myself around him tighter holding on for dear life. I wouldn’t be surprised if his jersey number eleven wasn’t transferred over onto my shirt.

  “Love you too, brown sugar.” He whispers into my ear. “You coming by the house after class?” I nod my head yes. “Good. Get going so you can hurry back to me, yeah?”

  He places me down, grabs my notebook off the ground, and his helmet. Passes off the notebook to me, he drops a light kiss on my lips coupled with a smack to my ass then jogs toward the showers. As I turn to make my way to the parking lot, I hear his cleats stop abruptly.

  “Brown sugar eyes… It runs deep.” I turn my head just in time to see that gorgeous smile. He taps his helmet to the center of his chest and winks at me.

  “Every day, Ren. Mine over Matter.” He turns and disappears around the corner. His ass looks good in those damn tights. Jesus.