“What panties, Janet?” The other girl asked with a fake smile. “You never wear any.”
She sniffed. “I like to be available when the opportunity calls.”
“There’s a difference between available and desperate,” she retorted and Janet flounced off.
The girl glanced at me again. “Be careful asking about the Rebels around here. Rumor has it they were responsible for getting Monty put away.”
I nodded slowly, wondering why I’d never heard that rumor before. “I’m Drea,” I introduced myself, not recognizing the other woman.
“Katie,” she replied. “I don’t usually come to the clubhouse. Draco and I have our own house.” She lowered her voice. “We try to stay out of club business, but he had to come today for your man’s swearing in.”
“You don’t like what’s going on?” I questioned and she gave me a wary glance. “I’m not trying to get you in trouble,” I promised, lifting my hands. “I just see some stuff. Hear other stuff.”
“More than a few guys left when the club started to get mixed up in drugs. Draco wanted to leave, but he’s got a record. We’ve got two kids and the protection runs pay better than anything else.” She cast her gaze down. “Sometimes, I think I sold my soul to the devil for a two bedroom house.”
“There’s no shame in surviving,” I replied, reminded of some of the things I’d done in the name of justice.
“There is when it’s stained in blood,” she answered simply, walking off before I could respond.
“You gonna be by his side tonight?” Monty questioned as he came up beside me. “Rumor has it you’re his old lady now.” I gritted my teeth as he stroked my arms. “That was fast. Anything you want to tell me?”
“No,” I said coolly, stepping out of his reach. “We didn’t really have a chance to talk.”
He chuckled, his gaze never leaving me. “I guess not. Well, you’ll let me know when you do.” I nodded tightly, understanding it was a command. “I’d hate for anything to happen to Crew.” He shook his head. “It’d be a crying shame.” He met my eyes then. “For both of you.”
I swallowed hard, nodding again. Threat acknowledged. “He’s eager to become a full member,” I croaked, pushing the words out, wondering why it was suddenly so difficult to act the part when I’d had no trouble with Dick. “He thinks he can do better than Dick.” I took a chance, unsure of how upset Monty was at the loss of his long time secondhand.
“I’m sure he will as long as he doesn’t use the product,” Monty replied silkily. “I doubt he’s as weak as his mother.” He strolled away, leaving me determined to find out whatever I could about Crew Hayes.
Chapter Nine
Crew
Six Months Earlier
I kicked the dirt, hating the helpless feeling that had consumed me since realizing Norah had run. I couldn’t convince Creed or Johnny to let me go after her, and they’d put me on probation for disobeying them.
“They wouldn’t even know she was gone if it wasn’t for me,” I muttered, walking the familiar path to Deacon’s grave. “I’m the one that realized the matchbook had Deacon’s phone number.” I still wasn’t sure what it meant, but it had caused suspicion to be cast on Norah, which I hated. I knew she hadn’t done anything. She’d run because she was scared.
Scared of what? An internal voice asked and I shook it off. “She’s innocent,” I declared, my voice loud in the empty cemetery, and a bird flew off with an angry caw. I slowed as I came to his grave, stopping respectfully at the foot of it.
“Hey, Deacon,” I said, my head hanging as I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I messed up, man. Norah’s gone and I don’t know where. I keep screwing up my promise, don’t I?”
Wind ruffled my hair and I glanced up as I shoved it aside, my gaze catching on something sitting on top of Deacon’s headstone. I shuffled closer, reaching for the object when I realized it was a phone. There was nothing else with it, and I glanced around the empty cemetery as I wondered where it had come from.
I pressed the power button, assuming it would be dead, but the screen lit up, and a picture of Norah stared up at me. My hand tightened around the phone as it dawned on me who it had belonged to, and who must have left it for me.
“What are you trying to tell me, Norah?” I murmured, staring down at Deacon’s phone. “What did Deacon know and what does it have to do with his phone?”
I swiped my thumb across the screen and was met with a lock message. I had no idea what his PIN might be, but tried a few generic number combos with no success.
“Your number was on the back of a matchbook found at a meth lab, a matchbook from the Crazy Horse,” I whispered, trying to puzzle out what it all meant. “Norah didn’t work there before you died so what was your connection to the Crazy Horse?”
I didn’t remember ever seeing Deacon at the strip club where my mom had worked and everyone knew he was crazy about Norah. He wouldn’t disrespect her by going there. “Maybe it was after you died,” I theorized, tapping the screen to make it go dark and slipping the phone into my pocket. I needed to find out what was on the phone and why Norah had felt it was important enough to leave where I would find it.
My gaze swept the empty cemetery, unsurprised when Tori’s lean build was nowhere in sight. She was living full time at the house now, and her and Cord were driving me crazy going at it like rabbits every night.
I shook my head, thinking about their relationship. They should hate each other, and sometimes I think they did, but there was something between them that kept drawing them together. Sloan liked to say, “They love to hate each other,” and I thought she was right.
It didn’t really matter to me as long as Cord stayed in Friendly and with Tori accepting the second Enforcer position in the club, I had a feeling he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
When I got back to the house, I found Tori in the kitchen, black streaks of soot covering her head to foot. “Been cleaning up the tattoo shop?” I questioned, already knowing the answer. She just nodded, guzzling a bottle of water. “I found something.” She lowered the water bottle, giving me a questioning glance. “It’s Deacon’s phone.” Her gaze sharpened as I pulled it from my pocket.
“Where did you get it?” She asked, reaching for it.
“On Deacon’s grave,” I replied, grinning with satisfaction at her stunned expression. “Norah left it there.”
“Why?” She shook her head, staring down at the smiling picture of Norah. “Why leave and why leave the phone?”
“She’s scared,” I repeated insistently. “There’s only one thing Norah cares about and it’s her son. She would do anything to protect baby Deacon.”
“I hear you, but she was also the one that wanted to do the right thing. I can’t understand why she’d run away. She had to know we’d protect her.”
“Maybe,” I paused, gesturing to the phone. “Maybe whatever is on there….maybe it’s something we can’t protect her from.”
“Well, that’s all kinds of terrifying,” she replied dryly.
“You believe me though?” I stared at her earnestly and she lifted her head, meeting my gaze. “You don’t think Norah was involved?”
She sighed, and my chest grew heavy. “I don’t know her as well as you, but yeah, I don’t think she was involved. Deacon either.” She gave the phone back to me. “You know the PIN?” I shook my head, staring at the damn thing. It had information I could use, but without being able to access it….. “It’s not going to change their minds,” she said, seeming to read my thoughts. “We still don’t have anything concrete.”
“I can’t keep sitting around waiting,” I admitted and her hand rested on my shoulder. “I made a promise to Deacon that I would take care of her. Protect her.” I met Tori’s eyes. “I haven’t done that.”
“You have,” she replied, nodding to the phone. “Maybe that’s how you protect her. Find out what’s on the phone. Slay the dragon, ya know?”
“No,” I answered as my
forehead wrinkled, “I don’t know.”
She chuckled. “Eliminate the threat and she’ll come back.”
“Like whoever killed Deacon,” I said slowly and she shrugged.
“Something like that. It’s no accident she left when we found out Monty had been released. Everything is connected to that bastard and we need to figure out why.”
Chapter Ten
Crew
The tattoo itched but I knew better than to scratch it. The weight of it pressed in on me, the Viper emblem vastly different than the Rebel one I’d planned to sport. My gaze swept the room, seeing the drunken guys scattered everywhere as they celebrated my new status for me.
“Hey,” a throaty voice murmured, her hand skimming over my zipper. “You need some company?” Her expression belied the question, not expecting a refusal. I pushed her hand aside, my gaze warning her as I shook my head.
She smiled, not taking the hint as her other hand gripped me. “Drea was bragging about how impressive you were. She won’t mind if I find out for myself.” The red of her lipstick was garish under the bar lights, reminding me of the joker. “You might find I’m a better fit.”
Drea appeared in the door of the bar, her gaze searching and I knew when she’d spotted me and the chick who’d wrapped herself around me like a boa constrictor, because her eyes narrowed dangerously. “I don’t think she’s into sharing,” I murmured, extracting myself from her hold. “In fact, I’m gonna do you a favor.” She purred, thinking she’d won. “You leave me alone and I won’t let her kill you.” She stared at me, jarred by my words and the fact that I’d set her aside as Drea stormed up to us.
“Bitch,” Drea snarled, her hands reaching for the other woman’s hair. “I warned you, Janet.”
I caught Drea from behind, wrapping my arms around her. “Not worth it,” I whispered in her ear, lifting her up. I smiled at the other woman, Janet, as I set Drea on the table I’d been standing next to, my hands spreading her thighs apart as I dipped my head, nuzzling her. “About time you showed up,” I murmured roughly, shoving her skirt up as I thrust my hips into her welcoming ones. My fingers kneaded her hips as I rocked against her and I watched as her eyes dilated.
Janet continued to stand there, staring at us in open mouthed shock as I unzipped my jeans and thrust inside Drea, both of us groaning as I took her hard on the table in the middle of the bar. We got some stares, but for the most part, everyone ignored us as I slammed into Drea’s pussy, feeling her walls clench around me as she cried out my name.
My balls tightened, seeking release and as her inner walls milked me, I came with a rough shout, emptying inside of her as Janet watched. I turned my head, my dick still inside Drea, and told her, “She’s the only pussy I need, so unless you want to watch round two, go find some other dick.” My chest heaved as she spun on her heel and stomped off.
“That’s a first,” Drea breathed under me, her expression shocked and satiated at the same time. “I didn’t peg you as the voyeuristic type.”
“I’m not,” I answered, supporting her weight as my hips kept her pinned to the table. “But sometimes you gotta make a point.”
A few whistles and catcalls sounded out around us and she smiled grimly. “Point made.”
I nodded, pulling out and tugging her skirt down before tucking my dick back in my jeans. “Wanna take a walk?”
She glanced at me in surprise, but nodded and I slung one arm around her shoulders, keeping her close as we weaved our way through drunken slaps on the back.
We finally made it outside and I released her, taking a quick step sideways to put space between us. I reached in my pocket for my cigarettes and she watched as I lit one, shaking her head when I offered her one.
“Those will kill you,” she mentioned and I smiled, amused in spite of myself.
“Trust me, they won’t have a chance,” I informed her, watching as she got my meaning. “That bothers you.”
“A little, yeah,” she answered, unable to hide a faint surprise. “You seem too young to be so,” she hesitated and I waved my hand.
“Go on.”
“So cold,” she finished, staring up at me. “So hopeless.”
“Not hopeless,” I corrected. “Realistic.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty,” I answered, and seeing her shock, asked, “How old are you?”
“Old enough to know better,” she muttered under her breath before raising her voice. “Twenty-seven.”
“My brother’s age,” I replied, smiling tightly. “Cord is twenty-seven.”
She made a sound and I raised my eyebrow.
“I feel like I robbed the cradle,” she said as I took a drag from the cigarette.
“Maybe I like older women,” I replied and she shot me a disbelieving glance. I shrugged lightly. “Never been with a woman younger than me,” I told her honestly. I thought for a second. “Or even the same age.”
“You know what you’re doing,” she replied, her voice tight.
“Is that a compliment?” I quipped, amused, and she gave me an impatient stare. “I grew up in the club. Plenty of women to show me the ropes.”
She stared at me a second longer, then exhaled as she leaned against the wall next to me. “My fiancée was my first,” she admitted quietly and it was my turn to look at her in surprise. “He died and I wound up here.”
“With Dick?” I asked unable to hide my revulsion and she dipped her head.
“With Dick.”
“What happened?” She gave me a sideways glance and I lifted my chin. “To your fiancée?”
“He was murdered. Shot in cold blood.”
My neck tingled at the note I heard in her voice. It wasn’t sadness or despair. It was hatred, pure hatred, and I recognized it’s intention.
I took a deep drag, filling my lungs with nicotine, as I debated my next question. “Who?”
Her gaze flashed to mine and I saw when she realized she’d said too much. I grabbed her arm before she could scoot away and she bristled like a cornered cat. “Answer me.” Muscle tightened under my palm and I knew she wanted to jerk away, escape me and pretend this never happened. “Help me and I help you,” I told her, releasing her arm and tossing my cigarette away. I’d caught her off guard when I let her go and she stood there uncertainly. “You already told me about Monty wanting to spy on me, so I’m gonna guess he had something to do with your fiancée’s murder?”
She didn’t answer, as her gaze remained wary and I pushed her against the wall, careful not to hurt her, but hard enough to make her gasp. My hand slid under her skirt and her legs parted automatically. I shook my head, feeling the stickiness between her thighs. “You’re making me question the willing part,” I told her, my thumb stroking over her clit and her breath hitched. “How far are you willing to go for revenge?” Her wide eyes held mine as she panted, unable to answer me as my thumb circled faster. “You can’t fake this,” I mused, ignoring the tightness in my jeans as she whimpered. “But I have to wonder if it’s just part of the plan.”
A high pitched moan escaped her and I slowed my ministrations as she slumped forward against me. I cupped her neck, rolling her head toward me as I placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I think we want the same thing, darling.” I stroked my finger over her clit and watched her pupils dilate. “It’s just do you trust me enough to tell me what you’re hiding?”
Chapter Eleven
Drea
Six months earlier
Monty walked in the bar and my hands tightened automatically into fists as men clapped him on the back and shook his hand. Engineering his release from prison went against everything I stood for, but it was a necessary part of the plan.
Dick hid his aggravation with a broad smile. I’d seen the calculating gleam in his eyes more than a few times. He had been angling to replace Monty, but it was difficult to do with a man who just wouldn’t stay gone.
“Monty,” he exclaimed loudly, embracing Monty as he came up to us
. “Glad you’re back. Wasn’t the same without you.”
“I reckon not,” Monty drawled, a ruthless intelligence on his face. “Hard to take my job when I’m here.”
“I could never replace you,” Dick replied, trying and failing to hide his sudden unease.
“No, but you sure as hell tried,” Monty snapped before laughing loudly. “Would have expected nothing less.” Dick joined in, his laughter a little uneasy. “Need to set up a meet. We took a big loss with Rob and the storage units.”
“Yeah, you know he’ll only meet with you,” Dick responded, some of his irritation showing through. “I’ve been trying but his guys keep pushing back the meeting time.”
“A guy like Domingo Martinez can’t be too careful.”
My ears perked up at the mention of the head of one of the top drug cartels. I attempted to hide my sudden interest by snuggling against Dick’s shoulder. He patted my ass, but otherwise ignored me.
“It’s good you got out when you did. We’re almost to the point of not meeting demand.” Monty’s expression hardened at Dick’s comment. “Rob getting caught did a number on our supply.”
Monty sucked in a sharp breath. “Do we know yet how they found out?” Dick shook his head. “I want to know. Someone talked and they’re going to pay,” he promised silkily and I said a quick prayer for whoever had ratted out the location. Monty’s gaze flicked past Dick’s shoulder. “Nina,” he stated, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “I thought you were dead.”
“No,” she simpered and my head turned as a bony woman stepped up to Monty. “Rehab.” She rubbed her nose and Monty’s cheek creased.
“Looks like it took,” he commented and she stared at him in confusion. “I take it you aren’t welcome in Rebel territory now?”
She shook her head as Monty sighed. “You might be useful. Earn your keep and try not to OD?” She nodded rapidly as Monty’s attention turned back to Dick. “Let Domingo know I’m available to meet.”
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